In August of 2000 I moved away from home for the first time
to go to school 250 miles across the state.
Though I took my cats Jenny and Mango and my parakeets Hazel and
Ivy with me I left many family pets with my parents including our dogs.
At the time though I would have liked to bring my dog Tres it just wasn’t
going to work. I didn’t know if my new life would be able to handle a dog,
much less an 80 pound dog like Tres. Classes my small car a small yard.
After a month I decided I missed having a dog and set out to find one.
Though I would have liked to have Tres here it still wouldn’t work.
My car was still too small to haul him and my cats back and forth
the 250 miles between school and home — and I simply thought his
energy level would be happiest staying where he was.
So I began searching my new area for a small dog praying that God would
lead me to the right one. September 23 2000 I found Mandy
a small black and white dog of possible Westie-something heritage.
She was around 7 years old found by her host family wandering
on a highway. I knew when I saw her that she was my dog.
When I brought Mandy home that September afternoon I never imagined
our time would be so short. Various problems showed up in Mandy’s
baseline blood work at the very beginning but all appeared to be improving.
Then on January 25 2001 just about 2 weeks after we returned to school
from Christmas vacation we discovered Mandy had lung cancer.
By the time she started showing signs it was almost over.
I had hoped for more time but knew it wasn’t likely.
She crashed the next night and I knew I was going to have to
make the decision to let her go.
On January 27 2001 at 12pm I helped my little girl
across the Bridge.
My Mom called me that afternoon. It was strange because I had
hoped she would call. I wanted my family to know but couldn’t bring
myself to call them. I told her what happened and we cried together.
We talked for awhile and then hung up.
A little while later Mom called me back again.
She told me my brother (who is not normally the animal person in our
family) had suggested that maybe Tres would be able to live with me now.
Besides having a bigger car my brother had noticed something about Tres.
Tres was no longer the crazy rambunctious 2-year-old dog we had adopted
4 years ago. Though still full of energy and life my now 6-year-old dog
had matured beyond that almost-puppy stage.
So we made the decision that afternoon that Mom and Dad would bring Tres
over to me and if things didn’t work out (if it appeared that Tres was unhappy)
they would come back and get him. What ended up happening?
My brother was right. Tres fell right into his new lifestyle and seems
to love it.
But I realize now that this is Mandy’s legacy.
Without having had her – and then lost her – I don’t think any of us
would have realized that Tres could fit into my life here.
Mandy came to me when it was impossible and was my best friend
for four months. And when she died she brought me back to Tres.
Mandy was not just a dog to adopt into my new life; she was THE dog.
As it turned out she needed a special home to care for her needs.
I feel very privileged to know that God chose me as that home.
And I needed her just as much. In the pain of her death I needed Tres —
and she made it possible for him to be with me.
Just as Mandy never made up for Tres not being with me here
Tres does not make up for Mandy’s loss.
She has forever changed my life. Though I miss Mandy greatly,
I am so very thankful to have shared a part of my life with her.
Shannon
| Shannon |