[Raiza]

I don't know if I should tell this story or not, but here it goes. When I was 12 my doggy got really sick, I begged mom and dad to take him to the vet.. they didn't pay that much attention, just told me to give him milk that he would get better. In Panama 26 years ago, people didn't take care of dogs like here in the USA. I think still they are behind. They think dogs are just that: dogs (if you know what I mean).. thank God not everyone is like that there, but there is still too many people that think poorly of them.

...continuing my story, I finally took him to the vet, I remember I was crying and begged the Vet to please see him first since he was laying almost lifeless. He told me I had to wait my turn. I sat, and literally 15 minutes later he pooped as I felt his life went when he took his last breath. I knew then he was gone. I cried like there was not tomorrow. I remember my step dad got me in the back of the car with my dog still in my arms. He had a friend with him which he was carrying a normal conversation, like nothing was happening. I was sobbing. He drove to the outskirts of the town where we lived and he then stop the car at the side of the freeway, then he said: "Ok, go".. I said, "go where?".. he said, "go and throw him". On the side of the freeway there was a slope with rolling hill ahead and with so much pain I dropped him there and set a prayer. I think it was the saddest day of my life. No one seemed to care, no one gave him a decent burial. My stepfather didn't seem to even care I was so much in pain, he didn't even walk with me to drop him. They actually waited in the car!! He even asked me why was I crying so much when I got back in the car. That when a dog dies it was usually in exchange of a human life.. that it could had been any of my brothers or my sister!!! In my culture you are taught not to contradict your parents.. you basically grow up being a little bit if not a lot scare of them. I think I cried for the next weeks... I still shed tears when I think of him.

If you ask if my mom consoled me, NOPE. She felt the same as my stepfather. If they were sad, never showed it to me.

My stepfather past away about 12 years ago. He died of long cancer. I don't wish that illness to anyone, he died pretty sadly... and mom today seems to care about dogs more but not enough to put the time and afford they deserve. If you ask me if I think she should have dogs, I will say: "I strongly believe SHE SHOULD NOT ... no one in my family". Sadly, she has 3 dogs. Pretty pathetic huh?!!

Cosita is my first dog after him (he was a mud, looked like he had some Perkiness in him). That is why I over protect Cosita so much and she is treated like a person at home. Before we brought her to our home, I had a very serious conversation with my husband since I saw he was apprehensive to having her. I told him my sad story and therefor Cosita was going to have everything my dog never had. My husband agreed and I think he took it at heart because he loves her to death.

When all of you say how your dog died or I hear a sad story of a dog, I can't help having the same pain I once felt with "Drupy". He was 2 years old when he died, and I think he got poisoned.

May you guys heal the wounds your little ones leave when they are gone to doggy's heaven.

-r