This is to commemorate my 20 year old beagle collie mix
I was adopted at 5, and I met David. He was 6 years old, and an absolute joy. He chased the cats, he was a sweetheart, and , most importantly, he would remain with me in my life, until I grew up, and became, for lack of a better term, a mature, reasonable young woman. He was there, and he never changed. he always loved me, had the same look in his eyes, and never held a grudge. He didn't berate me for my angry outbursts, or hate me for my occasional mistreatment of him. He forgave, and forgot. For someone who was constantly in trouble, was almost perpetually angry, and had had so much change in the first 5 years of her life[6+ foster homes between the ages of 2 and 5, plus the constant switching of apartments with bio dad] David was a godsend. He never deserted me, never forgot me. When I was placed in group homes because of anger, he was always happy to see me when I came home for visits. When I turned 18, I stormed out and left home. He was still there. In the end, he was why I came home...I did NOT want to miss the last months of his life, and I could feel they were near. Shortly after my 19th birthday, I came to my senses, and came home. He was still there. A little older, a little blinder, and deafer, and a whole lot more needy. His body was failing, but he refused to give up. This was the dog with 9 lives. He had been shot by an angry neighbor, he had stopped breathing, and he'd been mauled by a pit bull. He wasn't going to let a little thing like age stop him. When we noticed he was producing bodily fluids with no odor, we knew it was time. His liver was failing, and that meant so was he. It was kinder to let him go, than to keep hi, no matter how much we all wanted to. He wasn't my dog. In fact, he was bought for my older sister long before I came, because she could easily hold him, as a puppy. But now that I think about it, he was my guardian angel. Because if not for him, I might still be angry with my mom, I would have missed so much more than I already did. And, worst of all I would still be with a man who abused me. He may not have been my favorite dog when he was alive...because he wouldn't rough house, as the end grew near, I realized I loved him so much more than I had thought. I was the one walking him when the pit bull attacked. I always felt the guilt that, even at ten i should have stopped it with my bare hands if need be.


NOTE: I AM NOT DISSING THE PIT BULL BREED, MOST PIT BULLS RAISED CORRECTLY ARE GREAT PETS.