I suppose it’s inevitable. We knew the time was drawing near, but now that the final arrangements have been made to put our beloved Penny to rest, I find it nearly impossible to fathom what our house will be like, what our lives will be like with only one doggie scampering around. It was only a year ago that sweet Penny’s insatiable desire to run and retrieve her ball was still going strong, but her physical ability to do it quickly left her these past several months. Though I think the desire would always be there in her smiley face, her eager eyes, and her loving, pleasing heart…dear Penny hasn’t been able to run and chase for a while now. And that breaks my heart. It is a tough realization to come to, a harsh reality for all pet owners at some point. I still can’t hardly think of our cat Steve, without wet eyes, I still miss him that much, three years later. I don’t know how I’ll cope without Penny’s happy presence in our lives…it will be so different.
We were just starting out – so young (and probably stupid) when we decided we needed to add a puppy to our little family…nearly 13 years ago. We fell in love with Penny’s sweet face, her adorable curled tail – like a little piglet, and her round, puppy belly instantly. We videotaped her and Steve wrestling around the house for months as she grew…and the pictures of the two of them curled up together on the chair, or in bed with Matt…will always be precious to me. There are so many memories. Swimming at Mom and Dad’s pool in Muscatine – she would chase a ball into the water over and over – jumping with grace and ease right out into the water and swimming back to the steps to start all over again. That silly dog would go until her pads were bleeding from the rough concrete surrounding the pool. I’ll never forget when she blew right through the screen door heading out to the pool (oops) SO excited to get out there and run and swim. She loved riding in the car…and would always weasel her way up to lay her head between us. Weasel. We’d call her that all the time…for weaseling her way up close…squishing herself between us and Buddy for some love. She patiently let children clamber close and cuddle up with her – even if she’d give us that ‘why me’ pitiful look.
She has been a joy. Truly. Her annoying habits easily accepted by us (they PALE in comparison to our Buddy boy!) My heart is heavy knowing that tonight will be our last night with her sleeping soundly at the side of our bed. I stayed home to work here today – so I could spend another day with her sleeping at my feet under the desk, take her outside and let her roll around in the grass, and take her for a ride in the car with all the windows down so she could stick her head out and take it all in.
I know the time is right – if there is such a thing as the right time. But still…the agony of it is…heavy. Our family will be changed, and her absence will be profound. I know in time my heart will heal. I know we will go on. But I will always miss her – our sweet Penny girl.
We were just starting out – so young (and probably stupid) when we decided we needed to add a puppy to our little family…nearly 13 years ago. We fell in love with Penny’s sweet face, her adorable curled tail – like a little piglet, and her round, puppy belly instantly. We videotaped her and Steve wrestling around the house for months as she grew…and the pictures of the two of them curled up together on the chair, or in bed with Matt…will always be precious to me. There are so many memories. Swimming at Mom and Dad’s pool in Muscatine – she would chase a ball into the water over and over – jumping with grace and ease right out into the water and swimming back to the steps to start all over again. That silly dog would go until her pads were bleeding from the rough concrete surrounding the pool. I’ll never forget when she blew right through the screen door heading out to the pool (oops) SO excited to get out there and run and swim. She loved riding in the car…and would always weasel her way up to lay her head between us. Weasel. We’d call her that all the time…for weaseling her way up close…squishing herself between us and Buddy for some love. She patiently let children clamber close and cuddle up with her – even if she’d give us that ‘why me’ pitiful look.
She has been a joy. Truly. Her annoying habits easily accepted by us (they PALE in comparison to our Buddy boy!) My heart is heavy knowing that tonight will be our last night with her sleeping soundly at the side of our bed. I stayed home to work here today – so I could spend another day with her sleeping at my feet under the desk, take her outside and let her roll around in the grass, and take her for a ride in the car with all the windows down so she could stick her head out and take it all in.
I know the time is right – if there is such a thing as the right time. But still…the agony of it is…heavy. Our family will be changed, and her absence will be profound. I know in time my heart will heal. I know we will go on. But I will always miss her – our sweet Penny girl.
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