The Life of Pets

And no I don’t mean the movie. I mean it literally. I just learned that a neighbor’s English Bull Mastif (150 Lbs.) died at age 8. This apparently is a long life for this breed. I feel for this neighbor. At age 10, the family cat died and I cried. Starting in 8th grade I got an after-school job walking a dog in my neighborhood. I became friends with the owner, Ellen, On a side note, Sylvie refers to her and her husband as grandma and grandpa. I remember when Polly, the first dog, a black mutt died. My mother sat me on the couch to tell me and I bawled. A few days later my mom gave me a copy of When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Rabbi Kushner.

I tell Sylvie that Marco is my favorite child because he doesn’t talk back. She usually makes a face in return. I am only half-joking. No matter whether you treated your pet as a member of the family, or regarded it as an annoyance when the pet passes, it is still a loss. Just was with the loss of a human, there is grief. Since receiving Rabbi Kishner’s book, I have read it many times for its wisdom.

While losing my dad and having my marriage end are my two greatest losses. Lossing Polly and Maggie (the family cat) are close behind. Ellen had dogs after Polly, starting with Habibi (Bibi), (which I walked until I went off to college). Then she had Dina and then Zelda. Each dog holds a special place in my heart. Habibi joined me for day camp pick-up of her step kids one summer Dina would sit at the base of Sylvie’s high chair when we went for dinner waiting for food to drop. Zelda hung out under the table putting her face in your lap looking for food.

When we chose almost 7 years ago to get a dog, I knew that someday I would have to say goodbye for good. Also, I knew that all the days of joy would be worth the feeling of loss. Marco brings joy and stress relief to Sylvie and me. When Sylvie is upset or sad, I simply give her Marco to cuddle and she feels better.

I need to point out then we got Marco, Sylvie as 9 y.o. and I knew that I would be the one to take care of him. This didn’t bother me because ever since, Polly, I had wanted my own dog. So parents, beware of the kid who says that he/she will take care of a pet, he/she probably won’t and unless you want the responsibility then let the idea go. Tell the kid “when you grow up and have a house of your own, you can ….” I say this to Sylvie at least once a week about something..

Marco, our beloved Havanese