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Dog Journal:
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The first thing I should do is introduce Pixie and her family. I'm Susan, Pixie's mom; and Gilles is Pixie's dad. We are also the parents of two grown daughters and grandparents to three gorgeous (not that I want to brag!) grandchildren.
Our home has had a canine pet for as long as I can remember; in fact our first puppy was
named Pixie. Poodle was the breed of choice for us as our young daughter was allergic and
we were told that poodles were hypoallergenic. Their coat is not hair but rather wool; in
fact some people have spun their pets' clippings and knit with the wool.
Our first Pixie lived to the ripe old age of sixteen and a half. Pixie taught the family what true devotion was. She accompanied Dad as he worked on the manicured lawn. Passersby would stop and marvel at the fact that she never strayed more than a yard from his side. Pixie was a blessing.
After her passing away we got Heidi soon after to ease the pain of losing a beloved pet. Heidi was a darling, she loved everyone but her loyalty was to Mom. When Heidi was two she tore her anterior cruciate ligament and after the operation would not eat so I used to go before work, at lunchtime, after work and after supper to feed and comfort her. Her convalescence was long and difficult but she made a complete recovery and spent a total of twelve and a half years with us.
When Heidi was two we thought she might like to have a companion so we bought Kayla into our home. Kayla was a bundle of love, she adored everyone and always aimed to please. When we bought baby Kayla home Heidi hid under the bed and sulked for days. They grew to be best friends. When our darling Kayla was only seven she was diagnosed with kidney failure. Her quality of life rapidly deteriorated. Even the two insulin shots I gave her daily did not help her. Kayla was euthanized three days into the New Year. Heidi grieved with us.
Christmas Day 2003 is a day I will never forget. My daughter and I had spent the day at the hospital with the eighteen-month-old baby. We returned in the evening and Heidi jumped off the couch and made a hard landing on the floor. She was so excited to see me. As she hurriedly limped toward me I knew that her old injury and the surgery done to rectify it had been irreparably damaged.
My husband and I nursed our "baby" for four days until a special veterinarian as on duty. Heidi left us on December 28th, 2003. My grief was inconsolable.
I said, "No more dogs, I just can't bear to lose them." My son-in-law kindly said to me, "Mom, you know you will eventually get a puppy. Why not get one now; it will help to ease the pain." Unbeknownst to me, my daughters were searching for a female miniature poodle puppy for me.
Click for Susan's Next Installment of Pixie's Ponderings!
