Remembering Petey

Saturday morning we lost a very special member of our family. Our little dog of 8 years passed away unexpectedly. Petey had been with us since he was a little pup. I sit here thinking of the many sweet memories I have of him. It's hard to think of him with dry eyes. He was the epitome of goodness & loyalty and he gave me my first role as a mother.

One of the fond memories I have of Petey was when he was brand new to us. Following the care of his birth mother, Maddie, we welcomed him into our home. It was my husband's idea to get a doggie and so, I was all up for it. In the very first days, he would wake up whining in the middle of the night and being in a new home made it understandable. My husband had very early mornings and so not to wake him up, I would slip out of bed and rock Petey back and forth, back and forth until he'd finally fall back to sleep. Then I would gently lay him in his laundry basket cradle. Many times, though, all he wanted to do was play. But I didn't mind it one bit.

Little did I know, he wasn't just going to be a pet, he was going to be a special part of our family and extended family as well. My niece and nephews always asked how Petey was doing and he seemed to be the main attraction with their every visit. He loved his family and was so protective of us. This I knew from the very beginning.

One evening, when he was still just a little pup, he did something I'll never forget. We were outside, just the two of us, when two strange dogs began approaching. I was oblivious to them. All I was thinking was how much I loved this little dog. As I held Petey he began to growl. I had heard him growl before in a playful manner but this time I knew he wasn't in any mood to play. As I turned around, there stood the two large dogs. Petey kept growling til they turned their backs and went the other way. He defended me as if he were a K-9 and I was his partner.

In a way, it was true. We were a team. I taught him how to dance, how to roll over and sit and lay down, and how to put his paw out to say howdy in true gentleman style.

There's a stillness and silence in the air that makes our hearts hurt. Mason knows he's gone to doggie Heaven, but I don't think he really understands. No longer will we be be warned of the arrival of visitors or greeted by his smiling face. He is irreplaceable and will forever be missed.

Rest in peace, Petey. We love you.
{January 15, 2002 - January 16, 2010}