{ Piglet }
Nov. 2000 — Nov. 5 2001
Chihuahua
I lost my little dog Judy today.
She died at the Vet’s office while they were trying to find out why she
was having so much trouble breathing.
They did some X-rays first and listened to her heart all seemed fine.
They then put her to sleep so they could look down her throat with
a little camera to see if they could determine what was wrong.
They found that she had some small sackules in her esophagus that
were restricting her little throat.
While they were waiting for her to awake her little heart stopped.
This was totally unexpected and they did not know why it happened.
Despite the efforts of 3 doctors they were unable to
get it to start again.
I have such a gaping hole in my life now; I don’t know how I will
ever get over this. She was so innocent and a very good little doggie
who loved us unconditionally. She was ours for 3 years and 9 months
or we were hers. She would have been six sometime this month.
We never did know what day she was born on.
I brought her home in the little cardboard casket the vet’s office provided.
I went out to my workshop and built a small pine box to put it in.
We put her favorite little stuffed doggie and 2-1/2 biscuits in with her.
The half was left from one she didn’t get to finish.
I buried her right outside our big picture windows.
Danielle parents have ordered a stone marker with her name
and we are going to construct a flower garden around her.
I can still see her standing on the porch as I’d drive up barking to
welcome me home.
She’d race across the yard to greet me as fast as her little legs
would carry her. If I got home first she’d be in the window
pawing at the screen as if to say “let me out let me out!”.
Then she’d sit up on the back of the couch and keep watch down
the driveway for Danielle to come home.
As soon as she saw the headlights she’d run to the window
and bark as Dani came up the driveway.
Then she’d run through the kitchen and before I could get there
she’d be pawing at the door frantically.
I’d open the door and she’d run out onto the porch and nearly jump
out of her skin so excited that Danielle was home.
Dani would pick her up and get licked on the face.
Judy would be squirming so much you’d almost drop her.
We’d put her between us and have a family hug. Then it’d be my turn to pet
her while Danielle held her. After that I’d hold her so Danielle could pet her.
Then we’d go make our trip outside. After we got back in we always got
a biscuit for being a good girl.
Funny thing about her she would not eat her biscuit unless one
of us was in the room. And even then we’d have to say
“it’s ok you can have it” before she would eat it.
She would not even eat her morning biscuit until we got home either.
It would sit beside her all day but she found comfort in knowing
it was there. Sometimes she’d bury her biscuit in the blanket.
She’d lay it down and push the blanket up over it with her nose.
them and it is so hard.
When my dad died she was all alone and we took her
into our family. She was very afraid back then.
Her little world had been turned upside down and while she knew me,
my Dad was her whole world.
So at night she wanted to sleep in the bed with us.
I had gotten her a Wendy’s French fry box and put a pillow in it to
be her private space and to provide her somewhere to sleep.
But the only way she would go in it is if I lined it with whatever
shirt I happening to be wearing before bedtime.
I guess the smell of someone she knew gave her some comfort.
She was that way about coats and jackets too.
If you came in and took off your coat she was right there wagging
her tail for you to put it down so she could crawl up in it.
She especially liked our leather jackets. I guess partly because of the smell,
and partly for the silky lining.
Later on we did let her sleep in bed with us and she would crawl
under the covers down between us and sleep.
If we were not close enough for her to touch each of us she’d turn
sideways so that she would know we were both there.
She got over this later on and took to sleeping at the head
of one our pillows. I used to lay my hand on her back while I slept to
let her know everything was ok.
Sometimes she’d get down at the foot of the bed and curl up
between Dani’s legs. Dani had to get used to lifting her legs before
trying to turn over. We always had to be careful of laundry.
Judy had a habit of burrowing into laundry and then coming
back out with just her little nose sticking out.
I almost stepped on her a few times. She used to lay stretched out with
her hind legs pointing straight backward.
We always left the TV and light on for her. She grew up with a TV on
and we didn’t want her to be lonely or in the dark if we got home late.
could see out. If the window were open she’d stick her head out and sniff.
Daddy used to let her ride up on his shoulders and behind his
neck while her drove. So this was her favorite seat with us as well.
She’d sit up on my shoulder and watch everything while we rode.
I’d always get some “Happy Dog” which is what we called it when
she sat up and stuck her little tongue out and panted real big.
Judy didn’t know how to play when we got her.
At first her toy was one of Dani’s yard balls.
I had a pair of leather gloves when the gloves went on
she would get so excited. She knew she didn’t have to worry
about hurting me and she could really go at them.
And when we’d play a little without the gloves she was very
careful not to nip me. The only time you could ever risk getting a bite
from her was if you pulled her tail. That was a no no.
She’d follow Danielle around the house.
If Danielle went into the bedroom and was gone for more than
a few minutes she’d be pawing for me to help her down off
of the back of the couch and then to put her up on the bed.
Dani had to stay reasonably in her sight for her to be happy.
Whenever Dani was sick she’d stick close by her as if to watch over her.
She’d crawl under the covers and snuggle up next to Dani’s tummy.
I believe she was a big part of Dani’s heart improvement.
Judy used to sit on the back of the couch and watch us in the kitchen
while we were cooking. She could only get up there with some help.
We’d either set her up there or she’d climb up one of us like a ladder
when we were sitting on it. She was so intent on making sure she
didn’t miss out on any food. If she ever heard the sound of plastic rustling
she’d come running cause somebody must be opening up something
that a little doggie would like to eat!
She was definitely a little “Hoover” when it was mealtime.
She’d climb up the stairs,
| Judy |