This is such a moving post - it brought tears to my eyes. Here are my "stories"
Chi-Chi: This was my "parents" Yorkie, she was purchased when I was (I think) about two years old. She died when I was 14 and although I can't remember what was exactly wrong with her, I remember her last days being so hard for everyone. This sweet girl allowed me to dress her up in doll clothes, take her in a baby carriage and would sleep with me on my pillow until the day she died. I wish I had a picture of her because it was this darling that taught me about the unconditional love one can have for an animal. No matter how old I am, I will always remember Chi-Chi with love and tenderness.
Luke: We got Luke shortly after Chi-Chi passed on. He was a Yorkie mix but unfortunately didn't live to see the age of one. Luke was "my dog" - I took him everywhere and trained him really well (for a teenager too!) until he got sick. Again, memory is failing me here as to exactly what happened. But my parents were told that surgery was the only option and even then there were no guarentees. My parents decided the best thing to do would be to put him down, and he was. Please don't think badly of my parents for making this decision. Luke was in a lot of pain and was immobile at the time he was put down. He was a great companion. I used to carry him in my over-alls pocket and he was my shadow. Although I didn't know Luke for as long as Chi-Chi, he still has a huge place in my heart.
Milo: My husband and I purchased Milo when we moved to England with the Air Force. This cat was the most un-catlike animal in the world. He learned to open doors and would follow us everywhere we went. Unfortunately he got out one day and we found him later, he was unable to move. We rushed him to the vet and he died two days later. Turns out he had injested poison. We have no way of knowing if this was intentional or not. He was the best cat I have ever known.
Thanks for this post. Revisiting these memories is painful, yet helpful. I'm smiling now thinking of the antics of these darlings who I have loved
