Brandy became a part of our family on March 1, 2001; she was 1 year old (so we were told). Our previous dog, George, died on December 28. 2000 (diagnosis with Pancreatic Cancer), he was 11 years old. We waited a few months and decided to find another companion.
As my wife searched online she found that Camp Pendleton ran a dog shelter for stray dogs wondering the base, supposedly left by those servicemen that had to leave for overseas. As we walked through the Quonset Hut, where the dogs were kept, towards the back and around this wall was a brown and white, dog, looking scared as she looked up at me. She was found on the base and they called her Crackers (the story is the patrons of the shelter were eating soup and crackers when she was found). Neither my wife nor I couldn’t take I eyes off of her. We knew she was the one for else. We called he Brandy.
Camp Pendleton had a policy that before a dog goes home with their new family they go to the Mesa College Veterinary School, to be examined and help train future Veterinary Technicians, three weeks later we brought her home.
Our home seemed strange to her, she was a little shy and didn’t even know how to play with toys. But as the first few months went by, she knew this was a safe home and people loved her. She began playing with toys, running around the house and just loved everyone
who would greet her.
For 10 years, 11 months, she provided us her unconditioned love, and we provided unconditional love to her. She loved toys. We would gift-wrap her presents and she would spend the time opening the package, tearing the paper off, and her face would light up when she knew she had the new toy in her mouth. Every toy she got we gave it a name. She was very smart, if you asked her to go get a particular toy, by name, she’d go into her toy box (yep – she had her own toy box) and bring you the toy. She played and played and played, fetching the toy back to my wife or me as we through it around the house.
I could write a book describing the love my wife and I and Brandy shared over the years. She just couldn’t get enough attention when anyone would come over. Especially her Uncle Gil (not her real Uncle just a good neighbor that fell in love with her and she him). He’d come over and take her out during the day when my wife was away. They loved each other so much. Gil had been injured and was mostly in his house. But the day before Brandy passed, Gil was outside and Brandy got to say goodbye (he always had a biscuit for her and this time was no different).
On Friday, February 11, 2011, our Brandy was put to sleep. A month earlier she was diagnosis with Cancer (after an ultrasound found tumors in her abdomen and surrounding areas). She was in good spirits so we brought her home; knowing any day she could pass. Friday morning she became very ill, we were told that the cancer had spread and she was in pain.
She’s now in peace and some day, when she sees us again, we will play and play and play.
We love and miss you Brandy.
Dad and Mom
We miss you dearly,
| Brandy |
| Lou and Charlene |