Farwell to my Faithful Companion
Sean Faye
Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: Impact Staff Blogs
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(SEPT. 24) - I remember it like it was yesterday. I begged my parents until they finally caved in and allowed me to get a dog.
We made our way to the Elmsford Animal Shelter ready to rescue a dog from the pound and bring it home. We found a German Shepherd mix breed that my father instantly fell in love with. She was a quiet, reserved 6-month-old puppy. She was as skinny as a rail and looked frightened out of her mind.
We took her home that eventful day and named her Meena. Little did we know we were taking home a dog that would become much more than just a pet, she became an irreplaceable part of the family that we would all come to absolutely love.
Years went by and the sounds of her barking at anyone who came to the door and her moaning when food was left on the table became commonplace, as was the tapping on the kitchen floor that was bound to be heard every time anyone stepped foot in the kitchen.
Yet, not all of the times were quite as good. From an early age, she always seemed to have some sort of problem that made the vet become a second home. She was diagnosed with a urinary track infection, an ailment that would plague her her entire life, and was also found to have bladder stones inside of her. The sight of these stones were an eye popping experience as no one in my family could possibly imagine the pain she went through with stones the size of baseballs grinding around inside of her. Yet, she never seemed to be uncomfortable until the last few days before they were found.
A few years later, it happened again, and the poor pup had to endure three surgeries in two days, one to get the stones in her bladder, then one to push a stone stuck in her urethra into her bladder, and then a third to get it out of the bladder. Once again, she popped up like a puppy after the ordeal, even though she was now nine-years-old.
The times when she was just around and not sick were the best. She had her routines that she simply did not like to have disturbed. She would wake my mother up around seven or eight a.m. on the weekdays, and around 9 a.m. on the weekends. It's hard to believe, but this dog was simply amazing and even knew what day of the week it was.
We made our way to the Elmsford Animal Shelter ready to rescue a dog from the pound and bring it home. We found a German Shepherd mix breed that my father instantly fell in love with. She was a quiet, reserved 6-month-old puppy. She was as skinny as a rail and looked frightened out of her mind.
We took her home that eventful day and named her Meena. Little did we know we were taking home a dog that would become much more than just a pet, she became an irreplaceable part of the family that we would all come to absolutely love.
Years went by and the sounds of her barking at anyone who came to the door and her moaning when food was left on the table became commonplace, as was the tapping on the kitchen floor that was bound to be heard every time anyone stepped foot in the kitchen.
Yet, not all of the times were quite as good. From an early age, she always seemed to have some sort of problem that made the vet become a second home. She was diagnosed with a urinary track infection, an ailment that would plague her her entire life, and was also found to have bladder stones inside of her. The sight of these stones were an eye popping experience as no one in my family could possibly imagine the pain she went through with stones the size of baseballs grinding around inside of her. Yet, she never seemed to be uncomfortable until the last few days before they were found.
A few years later, it happened again, and the poor pup had to endure three surgeries in two days, one to get the stones in her bladder, then one to push a stone stuck in her urethra into her bladder, and then a third to get it out of the bladder. Once again, she popped up like a puppy after the ordeal, even though she was now nine-years-old.
The times when she was just around and not sick were the best. She had her routines that she simply did not like to have disturbed. She would wake my mother up around seven or eight a.m. on the weekdays, and around 9 a.m. on the weekends. It's hard to believe, but this dog was simply amazing and even knew what day of the week it was.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Burnsie
Erin
posted 9/22/07 @ 10:49 PM EST
That is so sad. I don't have any pets in my household, but my sister has a dog that I absolutely adore and love like a niece! It's crazy how pets are just as important in the family as real people. (Continued…)
Tanisha
posted 9/25/07 @ 2:55 AM EST
Wow!!! I did not know it was that serious. It is sad to read this. As Im reading it, I don't think about the fact that Meena is a dog, all Im sayin to myself is "poor little girl". (Continued…)
jedd
posted 9/26/07 @ 12:29 AM EST
I've had the honor of knowing Meena for several years and it was her personality and beloved place in the family that inspired me to get a dog of my own. (Continued…)
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