People say their pets are special and they’re right. People say their pets are family members and thy’re right. But I want to share about one special four-legged family member and my journey with her. Back in 2003 my Pug Muggs that I had 14 years was dying. My husband also was in the end stages of cancer. I had determined I would never get another dog and confided this to a friend “.Melinda”, she said, “you can’t be Pugless” Nope, no more dogs, too painful to lose them . In her wisdom she sent me a picture of a little young pug named Baby. When I opened the pictureand saw her face, I cried I knew she was my dog and I renamed her Maggie. With my husband’s blessings I flew down to Florida from New York to adopt Maggie. Once I arrived back in New York airport all the way an hour and a half home she kissed us nonstop. Maggie quickly became Mugg’s self appointed nurse. He had lost interest in eating and drinking and she would push him to his dog bowl and he would eat and drink. When he was too weak to climb back up onto the deck she would put her head under his hind end and push him up. I could tell he didn’t appreciate the profuse baths she gave him , licking him all over like a mother would wash her young child that played in the mud.
Within a few short weeks more Muggs passed away and the month after my husband followed. Through the 13 years Maggie and I journeyed together we’ve been through many things, including moving from New York to Colorado to be near my daughter and grandchildren. Out here I met another wonderful man and married him we moved into a house we built together with our grandchildren and daughter and son-in-law. In the past year Maggie lost your vision and her hearing so we would carry her outside every time she had to go potty my husband would wake up at three in the morning six the morning and we took turns caretaking for her throughout the day she was valiant she was noble and brave.never complaining. I sprinkled diflferent essential oils in the rooms like lavender for the bedroom, lemon for the kitchen and entryways and I wanted to put oregano by the stairs because sometimes if the gate by accident got what left open she could fall.. I want to thank the doctors and staff who are so kind to Maggie last year at Pet Wellness I especially want to thank Home to Heaven for their compassion and how gently she was put to sleep. I prayed there would be green grass and flowers before she went that prayer was granted. The remains of Maggie will rest in the Home to Heaven.garden surrounded by greenfields under blue skies and puffy clouds. ..I also want to thank people who also loved Maggie. Peg who was a second Mom. Carolyn who took care of her one summer and always got her toward a special bark and run in circles when she came to the door. I thank Don who made it possible for me to get her, and Jill who brought us together and Marcia who ran Pug rescue of FL who let me adopt her. I’m ever in gratitude. Thanks to my daughter who put up with her “accidents.” To Will who supported me bringing her Home to Heaven. To Alex. Katie, Jacob and Joseph, Grace and David for loving her.
So in the end it seems I’ve come full circle saying goodbye to another dear friend . And I realize is I didn’t rescue her she rescued me.