Dogster

return to top

My new home

You'll be a puppy forever

Chester,

You died nearly two years ago today. It was July.

It was so hard to have you ripped from our lives so suddenly. I miss you every day. Every time I see a sheltie, I think of you and how good you were. I hope, whereever you are, you know how loved you were and how much joy you brought to our lives.

And I hope that the reason you came to us is so that you could live your life to the fullest. Several vets wanted to put you down months before your time, and you had so much play and fun in you yet. We gave you that chance. And you showed us that you could still fetch faster than any dog out there even until the end.

We held you when you took your last breath, just as we held you all the way home when we adopted you as one of our family. Thank you, Chester, for everything you brought to my life. When I die, you are the dog I want to meet me at the gate and to take long walks with.

I will never, ever forget you.

Why's everybody so sad? I just want to PLAY!

Mommy and Daddy have been crying all day. First I got dropped off at the vet's, where all the technicians carried me around all day. I got blood taken, but lots of kisses and hugs afterwards. They all said I am the cutest dog.

Then Mommy and Daddy came to pick me up, but their eyes were all red and their faces were wet. They held me really tight and listened to something about renal failure. It seems that I was born with kidney disease. It meant that I was a picky eater, but earlier tests showed that I was normal. That's because kidney failure won't show up until 75 percent of the kidney function is compromised.

I know that my life will be short, but I am so happy to be with Mommy and Daddy. I got to pick out some new toys today and played all day. We went to the park, and I got a new yummy dog food especially for me! I ran around the apartment and jumped up and down the stairs so fast.

I can't be slowed down. I just want to keep playing. Mommy and Daddy, don't cry. I love you and will always love you. I know I will always have a special place in your hearts because I was your first dog ever.

You will remember how I housetrained myself in four days. The time that Daddy accidentally hit me in the head with a carrot and how I can catch my stuffed squirrel in my mouth sometimes. You'll laugh when you think about how I ran around that apartment like a crazy man after a bath and that peanut butter was my favorite. And if I didn't always return the ball, oh, well, I wanted to keep it.

You're my best friends, and I don't want you to be sad for me. I'll just keep on playing, and you just keep on loving me, and we'll have our memories forever.

Luv,
Chester

PS - Don't forget to keep on playing.

Picky eating

Mommy and Daddy tried everything to get me to eat. I'm in a new puppy class now, and the trainers said sometimes Innova is too rich for puppies. I've rejected every dog food they could think of -- from Innova, Canidae, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul, Wellness and even less healthy things such as Bil-Jac or Science Diet. The puppy trainer said to try Pro Plan again, and it looks like I *might* eat this. Mommy's not happy about the food having corn in it, but this is the first time in months that I've eaten more than 1/4 cup of food in one day.