Caring pet owners know the joy a pet can bring into our lives. Of course, there are many different kids of pets, each with its own unique personality and lovable traits, but the most popular, by sheer numbers are dogs and cats. I have had both and also, parakeets who have their special kind of sweetness. But right now, I am speaking of dogs. They are so childlike in their innocence. They love you with every ounce of their being and the loyalty of a dog knows no bounds. He doesn’t care what color you are, how old or how young, how rich or how poor you are, how dirty or how clean, he just loves you. If only humans were so loyal!
Big Red came into our life, loving us to the max with her big heart. And for a time, she had a good life, living in the country and roaming free, enjoying our other dogs and our grandkids whom she enjoyed romping with. But sadly, it didn’t last. As the vet had mentioned, her immune system was suspect and in a year or two, the mange reappeared. Not willing to give up hope, we went through the round of treatment again although it was time consuming as well as expensive. But when it came back the third time, though it tore my heart in two, I knew my love for Big Red would have to pass the test that most pet owners ultimately face.
I don’t know the type of pain she was feeling, but she was in so much distress, she would hide out and howl piteously, the sound unlike any howl I had ever heard. I knew the time had come that I had to let her go. She could not speak for herself and could only depend on me. As with other pets before her, her suffering gave me the courage to act. So she, with me beside her, traversed that last mile, so to speak. We went into the vet’s office that day and she was trustingly walking beside me, pushing up against my leg the way she liked to do sometimes.
