Bridgette by Sarah Brooks

I am just now coming to terms I think with the loss of my first dog, Bridgette. She passed away in the wee hours of April 28th, 2011. I am sad to say I was not with her when she left this world. I think that is adding to my grief.

Instead I received the phone call the following day alerting me to what had happened. What was a splendid spring day suddenly shattered around me in an instant. I dropped to my knees and cried until I could cry no more.I was flooded with the memories of our time together. 14+ years we had, her and I. 14 wonderful years. It seems like just yesterday I was bringing her home for the first time. Bridgette was no ordinary dog. She was my dog. My very first dog.

I was around 11 years old when I found her. By chance me and my parents had gone to the local animal shelter. The shelter was near closing time but they allowed us to come in anyway. I remember still walking the kennels, row upon row of young and old dogs alike all looking back at you. Some jumping, some yipping…and then there was her. She was a medium size, black wavy haired beauty. A spaniel/lab mix, black as the night sky with large brown doe eyes. I stopped at her cage and just remember looking into her big soulful eyes. I was intrigued at how she wasn’t reacting like all the other canines. It was like she was trying to just communicate a simple, “Hi.. do you like me?”” to me.