I Believe in the human dog connection
Full Text:
I believe in the power of the human dog connection. This past summer my dogs, Sunny and Sammy, died unexpectedly. To make matters even worse they both died within 2 weeks of one another. I was incredibly close to Sunny and I felt like in many regards Sunny was the dog version of me. Sammy was picked by my dad and step mom. I saw him only sparingly but he holds a special place in my heart too.
I vividly remember when I picked Sunny out among the litter. All the other puppies were running around nipping at my feet and craving attention. Besides one, who was almost hiding in the corner and grabbing something. I immediately looked in the direction of this dog and asked the breeder “which dog is that one?” She said “his name is Ralph” which I knew in my head immediately was a name that would not stick. But from the second I saw him I knew he was the one. I still remember holding him in the car on our way home, his belly so warm on my lap that I thought he had peed on me. Over the course of the next 11 years I developed a love and connection with this dog that was unparalleled. When I was feeling down he always seemed to know and would come check on me. If I needed some space or needed to focus on something else, he did not pout or bug me and would wait patiently. He had a quirky side to him, as he would never push the hallway closet door closed and instead simply poke his head through the small gap it left between it and the wall. He would follow any direction, unless he caught the scent of something outside then he was off. The best though, is that he would always bring something to me when I walked in the door. If he was not at the door to greet me then I knew if I waited a second he would come around that corner with something in his mouth to give me. His favorite thing to bring was socks, but he would settle for anything if needed.
Over the past 6 months since losing him, there has not been a single day where I have gone without thinking of him. The hardest time frame is when I walk in the door expecting to see him and instead it is an empty silent house. While I have gotten better at coping to life without him, there have been many times throughout the past 6 months where he would have been invaluable in helping me. I will eventually get another dog, but right now and for quite some time it is just simply not an option. I know I will get another dog when I start my own family and have my own kids as I want them to have the same experience with a pet that I had. I want them to find that little pup hiding in the corner that immediately takes them by surprise and they find a connection with. I want them to find that little pup hiding in the corner that soothes them and creates lifetime memories for them to cherish. It is too soon to tell, but perhaps this will happen again with me. One thing is for sure though; Sunny and Sammy will be remembered forever as I believe in the power of the human dog connection.