[PreciousPatrick]

I've had Patrick for almost 7 months and before I had him I had a small mixed breed dog named "Lady Bug" that my sister and I had adopted from the pound by putting our money together as kids. Doing chores we saved up $50 and went to the pound and saved her. It was really sad that we couldn't buy her brothers and sister too b/c they probably didn't get a chance to have a home or life. Anyways, this was about 13 years ago and Lady Bug passed away the week I brought Patrick home this summer. So its only been about 4 months i've been without Lady. It was the saddest thing in the world. I never thought being 19 years old I'd still be crying over a pet but its true they really are "BEST FRIENDS." Lady Bug was the sweetest girl. She was my childhood companion that I saved every penny to get. It hit me hard when my dad brought her little body home in a box. I stood in the doorway as he dug a hole in the ground. He buried her under the tree next to my sister's pet parakeet that died. When he pulled the bag out of the box Lady Bug's entire life flashed before me. I could remember all the good times we shared and how she was always there to welcome me home from school by running in circles and barking. She would lay next to me while I did homework in the grass on the front lawn. Oh man... I tear up just talking or thinking about it now. She meant so much to me. For some reason I think she knew I would be okay without her because she saw I had Patrick right before she died. So she wasn't leaving me with nothing. Of course Patrick could NEVER replace her but he is creating his own place in my heart right next to Lady Bug's place in my heart. He reminds me of her sometimes. When I bring Patrick outside to pee I walk him by Lady Bug's head stone where we buried her and he sniffs. It's really sad. But I know Lady is watching over us now. And i'm sure she finally got to be reunited with her parents and brothers and sister in heaven. RIP- LADY BUG May, 2004