April 25 1987 —– Feb. 18 2000
Cocker Spaniel
I normally find myself writing whenever things otherwise
seem hopeless or at least confusing to the point where I need
to straighten them out somehow in my head.
This time it’s because I’m loosing my best friend.
This girl and I have been best friends since 1987 when she
first came into my life. She has always had the gift to make
me smile make me laugh and make me cry.
We met when I was in high school hitting it off instantly and
falling in love from the start. When I went off to college she
waited for me everyday to come home. When I would come
home she was always there to greet me like I had never left.
My world revolved around her for a time and I know hers mine.
When I left for the Navy she was confused not understanding
just why I had to come home only to leave again.
When I got married I promised her that she would always be
my first baby. Her love never faltered for me.
Even as she out paced me in age and her eyesight grew bad
and her hearing was taken from her she always knew when
her “daddy” was home.
You see this friend was my dog.
Her name is De De and I know although not gone yet she is critical.
She caught pneumonia as a combined result of the new
environment here in CA and as a result of my own love and
trying to care for her. I gave her a bath and a haircut and she
caught a chill. The chill turned into pneumonia and was
misdiagnosed as heart disease. After the wrong medication she
got extremely dehydrated and was put on IV antibiotics.
After our first visit with her she rebounded strongly eating
and drinking for the first time in three days.
I told her that if she ate and drank we would take her home
and she listened. That night however she worsened.
In the a.m. when the doctor called she had a fever of 104
and was weasing and spitting up puss.
The doctor was not optimistic for her chances.
Today we’re hour to hour and I find it hard to be optimistic
after seeing her. I know she knows she’s loved and want her
to be comfortable. If it’s her time then I want her to go peacefully
with love in her heart. If it’s not then I want her to fight.
Either way it’s in God’s hands.
Some hearts who have loved and lost will say “it’s just a dog.”
I’ve been blessed however and haven’t lost like this before.
And physically she was a dog. But if a dog can be a best friend a
listener a family member and a giver of love then she was it.
Because of De De I learned the true meaning of unconditional love
and she will always be in my heart. I’m glad we brought her
here to California and I’m thankful for her in my life.
De De died Friday 18 Feb of natural causes in the hands of
her “daddy” and mother. She succame to complications associated
with pneumonia. She was so loved and a great dog.
We’re all going to miss her.
God what a good dog…I will always love her !
Aaron
| De De Brodsky |