Dogs

Since I was 13 years old, a piece of my heart has belonged to a chocolate lab. First, there was Hershey. She was a birthday present for my brother and me. I vividly remember the day we got her, right down to the white sweater and jeans I was wearing. It was a lazy Saturday, in late May. We were just hanging around the house, chatting with my visiting grandmother. Out of nowhere my parents announced that it was time to go pick out our new dog. Confused, my brother and I said, “What?” A few moments later it sunk in and we started screaming with delight. I was running circles around the house, shouting “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” It was the best moment of my adolescent life.
When I started dating my (now) husband, he jokingly asked, “If you had to chose between me and Hershey, who would you chose?” That was such an unfair question. She had been my best, most loyal friend from sixth grade through college. She loved me no matter what and I had known him for a few months. So, when my husband had to deliver the heartbreaking news that my 15 year old Hershey had died, he understood my pain. Even now, as I write this, I cry.
Any animal lover understands the important role of a beloved family pet. Not having a dog in my life left a void. My new husband and I decided to quickly fill it. We lived in a great condo – only problem was the no pet policy. So, we decided to cash in on the great housing market, upgrade to a row house with a small yard and adopt a chocolate lab named Riley. (My father refers to our house as the world’s most expensive dog house.) She was our first baby. We loved this dog so much, that we cut a trip to California a day short just to get home to see her. As much as I loved this dog, there was no denying the bond between her and my husband. He had longed for a dog his whole life.
I hope I am conveying how special this dog is to us. Reason being is, 15 months ago, she went blind in one eye and had it removed. She had a rare hereditary form of glaucoma. My husband was diligent about administering her daily medicine and taking her to the eye doctor every 6 weeks. It was a labor of love. There was no stopping the dog with one eye - She still leaped off the dock and raced to fetch a ball.
We though she was beating the odds, but last week she lost sight in her other eye and had to have emergency surgery to remove it. My husband was out of town when it happened, so I had to make the tough decision by myself. As strange as it may sound, I think this awful experience brought us closer together and help me discover a new inner strength.
The resilience and spirit of Riley is astounding. I think animals come into our lives to support us, love us and teach us lessons. For Riley, there is no more light, but she still wakes each day with the same love and joy for life.
For her, I am thankful.