OUR RECENT LOSS ~KEANU~

As some of you may know, while I was in the hospital this last time, our sweet dog, Keanu, died. It was a very sudden and unexpected loss. It was especially hard to deal with since I was so very sick at the time AND it happened when I was not home to be with him.

Although he was already 13 years old, Keanu had been completely healthy and had seemed fine until he started to limp slightly and favor his front left paw. Even then, he was eating well, playful and overall still a happy little dog. Then, after a trip to the Vet - at which time they had only suspected arthritis and then went ahead and gave him his yearly immunizations - he started to go down hill really fast. He was dead within a week. We don’t know what happened for sure, but you can be sure we won’t be using Banfield for our pets in the future.

Keanu was a purebred Pomeranian and came into our lives in 1998, at the age of 2, from a family friend. I absolutely, positively did not want a dog, especially a house dog, at the time!! I fought hard against both my husband and my children, but I was outnumbered so I lost. Once he was here, guess who the silly dog liked best? You guessed it, me! Everywhere I went, he did, too. It drove me absolutely crazy. I did not like him and I did not want to look at him or be around him. He still continued to follow me. If I went to the kitchen, he followed me and sat right there and watched me. If I went to the bathroom and shut the door, he would act just like a two-year-old who sits outside the door and puts his hand under it while waiting on you to hurry up and come out. If I went somewhere he couldn’t get to, he would whine and ‘cry’ until I was back in his field of vision. He even went into mourning when I went on a week long mission trip in 2006. Literally. It was so crazy!

Needless to say, it wasn’t long until he won me over and I fell in love with him, too. He was my constant companion from that point on. I miss him badly and there is an empty place in my heart because he’s gone.

When I used to work at the doctor’s office, I always thought that people who got SO desperate and upset over their pets dying (and sometimes even called needing an excuse for a day(s) off work) were a bit off their rocker. Well, now I understand that grief so very much better. It is very hard!

Good Bye, Keanu.

We love you and we will always miss you!