30 Days of Gratitude: Day 12

Fur Friends

There is something about animals that can help cure the worst moods. Even when I am at my lowest, my little fur baby can always bring a smile to my face and warmth to my heart. Opie, as seen to the left, is not the first fur baby I have had. He is definitely the most unique.

Growing up, we had toy poodles in our house. The first one we had was named Buttons. He was only part of my life for the first few years. I remember him, not enough to tell stories. He was sweet and had really long ears. We lost him when he was attacked before church by a neighbor's dog that got loose. It was devastating to everyone, especially my mom.

In the aftermath, we got a tiny toy poodle named Willie. He was a cuddle bug and had a playful spirit. We had him for 18 years before he passed away. We also had a golden retriever named Romeo for a short time during Willie's reign. Romeo was a kind and gentle giant who didn't know how big he really was. He learned how to jump from Willie, the 8-pound poodle. He loved to play fetch. He also loved baths (just don't bring up the time dad snuck him into their bathroom and mom found the aftermath!). We lost him when he was hit by a car. From the ages of 7-25, Willie always knew what I needed and how to comfort me. Even after moving out of my parents' home, he was my buddy when I came home to visit. He loved playing outside when he was younger. He would chase chipmunks in the yard. He loved blankets and pillows, year-round. Every chair in the house was his. When I came home from college, I placed my butterfly chair in the living room. He loved this chair so much so that if I or anyone sat on it, he would jump onto the ottoman and lightly boof at them until they moved. He was frequently given plain McDoubles from McDonald's. The day before Willie passed, I was working in the area and living at my mom and dad's. I came home from work and noticed he was clingier than normal. I didn't think anything of it. The next day, as I left work, I had a message on my phone. I called my mom and learned he had passed during the day while everyone was gone. My heart sank. I rushed home, and he was lying in his bed. I lay by him on the floor and just thanked him for everything he did to make me smile for so many years.

Opie has been in my life for the last 3.5 years. He has taught me more about myself than the other fur babies, probably because it is very different when you are solely responsible. The day I went to get him, I made the 3-hour drive from work with so much excitement. I arrived, and the breeder brought him out. He was full of life, just a personality that shone for days. He has been my little sidekick since. He knows when I am sick and knows when I am sad. Even being full of energy, he knows when I need him to just be still. He will crawl into my lap and lie against me. He coos like a pigeon at times to get my attention. He loves to play outside and be in the water. He is a sock thief...at anyone's house!

All these stories remind me of the innocence and the unending love that animals possess. It is easy to take them for granted, and it does go beyond dogs. Every animal owner can tell stories of their animals and how they have impacted lives. Let us not take for granted the ways the fur babies help us to smile, provide us love when we don't deserve it, and learn to welcome us into their world, even when someone else has done them wrong. We should be more like this in our everyday lives to everyone around us!