The Pets We Love

I have a large family, and often times I find out about what is happening in their lives through Facebook. Yes...we are those pesky people who post entirely too much information about our personal lives. But, hey at least we stay in touch.

Today, I found out that my brother and sister-n-law have lost their dog Essie. The news came on a difficult day for their family, as this is the 2nd anniversary of the death of my sister-n-law's grandmother. Essie was a part of of their family for the last seven years. She was loved deeply by four amazing kids and for the two youngest, this was their first pet. Any dog lover knows, just how much that special bond really means.

As we go through our lives we often out live our animals. I have had my share of pets and each one touched my life in a different way. There was Pepper, our family dog that my oldest sister demanded we give a "proper" burial. Spud, the mutt that my brother and I were extremely attached to as kids, but had a wild streak that we could never tame. The gifted squirrel that would come to our front door and eat from our hands. My jack russell Valentine's Day gift I named Blinky (not sure why though....) And then there was Charlie, my sister's spirited black miniature pony. He left us with irreplaceable memories that keep us laughing even today.

I think a house feels more like a home with a pet. Animals do not judge us, they do not see our flaws. They look at us with loving eyes, only asking for food, water, and a little love. My heart aches for my brother's family tonight, I think my girl Winnie may get an extra scoop of dog chow.