About Benji

About Benji

ABOUT BENJI

I remember the day I first laid eyes on you. I was browsing around the Mall with your Poppa. I had walked into the Coin Store which is right next to the Pet Shop. When I came out of the store, there you were, all nestled down in Poppa's arms, the cutest little fur ball that I have ever seen in my life. My first thought was,"Oh, no, not another Keeshond," as we had one at home not yet a year old. Poppa said that you would make a wonderful playmate for Keesie and that you would be the perfect addition to the family. Needless to say, Poppa was right and we now had a new furry baby in the family.

As soon as you saw Keesie you went right up to her as if she was your Mommy and Keesie began mothering you from the very begining. She took special care of you because you were so tiny. You followed her everywhere she went and you were both very happy. I picked out the name of Benji for you. You looked just like a Benji to me and the name stuck.

When we put you down on the floor at home, you began scampering around as quickly as those four little legs could carry you, taking many-a-tumble on the slick hardwood floor before you mastered it. I fell in love with you the very first time I held you in my arms and snuggled your little face up next to mine and you gave me my first sloppy-wet-doggie kiss! That closed the deal....you were my little Benji.

You were the runt of the litter and never did grow to be a very big dog. We learned as soon as your pedigree papers arrived at home that you and Keesie were true blood sister and brother, having the same birth parents. That made the bond between you both even stronger. Keesie was about 20 pounds heavier than you, but the fact that you were small never slowed you down. Your big bark made up for your small stature. You were our mighty protector, and would bark or growl to let us know if something out of the ordinary was around the house. You were the best dog.

Possibly because you were so small at birth, you seemed to get sick with first one thing and then another all your life. One night we had to make a $750.00 night time run to the emergency animal hospital, because you were having a seizure of some kind and had gotten dehydrated. Of course, this happened on Saturday night when the regular vets were closed, and animal ER's are very expensive, but you were worth every penny, plus a whole lot more to us. They kept you overnight and so we went home empty handed, with no Benji. That was a long, long night of worry for your Poppa and Momma. We picked you up on Sunday afternoon and you looked so much better. I couldn't bear the thought of something happening to you.

Later in your life you developed a skin problem and no matter what we treated you with, we couldn't get you back to health. You began to lose weight and your fur and all your top teeth came out one by one. You were looking so pitiful that I wanted to cry. I couldn't do that, though, I had to be brave for you and for Poppa. I would hold you in my lap many evenings and rub your little skinny belly and you must have enjoyed it because you would lay so still and I could see a smile on your face. (Something only Mommas can see)

Finally you got tired of being sick. You wanted to cross over the Rainbow Bridge to run and play with all the other little pets that have gone on before you. Leaving Keesie had to be hard for you since you were so close. I know that she is very sad and lonely now. We are giving her a lot of love and attention to comfort her, until she feels able to join the other pets here, romping and playing. We know this is what you would have wanted for her. Letting go of you was a very difficult thing for me to do, but let you go....I did, so you can now run and play on the hillsides and in the green meadows over the Rainbow Bridge, with promises of a happier life for you and with plans for us all to meet again someday at the Rainbow Bridge. Run, Benji, run and have the happiest of times, until we meet again. I love you and I will miss you. R.I.P. Benji.