On Dec. 11, 1994 our Rottweiler, Lexa, had 10 puppies. 8 girls, 2 boys. I was 15 at the time and I talked my parents into letting us keep one. We decided that we would keep a boy and we named him Bart. He was a wonderful puppy. I guess it is easy to overlook all the “bad” things he did like, eat the back off the couch and chew up my brand new sandals. I loved him though and taught him to “give a kiss” instead of biting. All i had to say was, “give me a kiss” and he would lap his big tongue all over my face.
I did alot of growing up with Bart since I was in High school and would tell him all my secrets. I always said he was my best friend because he always listened to what I said and never talked back. It was like he understood everything that I was going through. People were always scared of him since he was so big. At one point he got up to 215lbs!! He had a thyroid problem, but once on medication his weight came down to around 170. He was big, but he was the biggest baby ever. I would sit next to him on the floor and count to 3 and right on cue he would put his big head in my lap. I would just pet him and whisper in his ear what a good boy he was.
I cried every time I had to leave home to go to college. It was so hard to say goodbye to him each time even though I knew I would see him again in a few months. My mom said he slept on my bed everyday after she and my dad would go to work. When I would come home it was like I never left. He would be so excited and his whole back end would shake.
I moved back home after school and got married. We had a big party before the wedding and we put a big white bow around Bart’s neck. He just pranced around and wanted to be right in the middle of everything. My husband and I bought a house and Bart moved in at the end of April. He got along fine with our two cats, Willie and Baxter. He would sleep next to me at night on his little mattress and would get so excited when we took him on a walk. Even one week before he died, he went for a walk and played tug-of-war with his rope. I never would have thought something was wrong.
Thursday night I knew something wasn’t right. He just laid on the floor and couldn’t get up, not even when we got his leash out. He hadn’t eaten that day either and he was shaking. Friday he went to the vet and he said that Bart’s heart was not doing well and he possibly had cancer. He had also lost 20 lbs in 2 months. He was such a big dog that it was hard to tell. He said to bring him back monday for a sonogram. I knew then that I didn’t have much time left with my Baby. He stayed at my parents house Friday- Sunday b/c they live closer to the vet and he was in critical condition. I spent the night Saturday night so I could have extra time with him. I just laid right by him on the floor and petted him all over. Sunday was so hard to say goodbye b/c I knew I would never see him again. I asked my mom, “Everything will be ok, right?” and she said yes. I felt at peace then and knew I could leave. I finally got the sad news Monday after work and cried so much. Bart had cancer all over his body and it was affecting his heart. I thought I had prepared myself for it, but I don’t think it is possible. I am so thankful that I got to spend so much time with Bart the past 2 months and can’t wait until we see each other again. I know he is watching over me and is my angel forever.
Bart, I loved you the day you were born, on your good days and bad days, and I will love you forever. You will always have a special place in my heart and will never be forgotten. I love you!
I love you Baby,
| Bart |
| Lauren |