They say a dog is a man’s best friend. Dogs are more than just some company to walk with or a face to come home to; they're family.
It was just a few weeks ago my world was turned upside down in a matter of days. From Tuesday to Sunday I witnessed the complete unraveling of my family. The place I once called home would no longer be the same.
We got Maggie when I was in fifth grade. I spent months begging for a puppy. My parents were unwelcoming to the idea of a ball of fur that would soil carpets, chew tables, and shred newspapers, but little did we know the innocent eyed, floppy eared little girl would steal our hearts.
Maggie wasn’t your ordinary dog. She was difficult to train, you could even say impossible at some points. She had a bark louder than I would like on a Sunday morning and one the UPS man sure didn’t appreciate. She insisted that when you had dinner so should she, never failing to remind you that it was 6 o'clock and she was hungry.
But she was also the first to greet you at the door with her tail wagging so hard it was hitting her eyes. Her love for ice cream was greater than any kid’s, so sharing was always a must and never an option. And her ability to listen was so great you were sure your secret was safe with her.
When you sign up to have a dog, you sign up for a list of never-ending responsibilities. They warn you of chewed shoes, scratched floors, endless shedding, and countless pairs of torn socks. But what they don’t warn you about is the emptiness. The bed that now lies empty in the family room or the empty dog bowl by the back door. The hole you chewed in the wall downstairs, Maggie, is nowhere near as big as the hole you left in our hearts.
It’s hard to understand the deepness of a loss felt when losing a pet. Maggie was only eight when she passed away but in that short amount of time she touched so many lives. She was there for every birthday, holiday, family fight or graduation celebration. In those eight years, the memories shared and the routines created are unforgettable. Losing a dog isn’t just losing a pet; it’s losing a family member.
A dog’s lifespan is much shorter than that of humans. However in the 10 to 15 years a dog spends with you, the impact they leave on your life is immense.
Here are just a few things we can all learn from our dog:
Never-ending love.
From my good days to my bad days, Maggie’s love never wavered. A dog’s love is endless. I have yet to meet another human with the same kind of capacity to love. Regardless of how I was feeling or what was going on with my friends or at school, Maggie loved infinitely, a trait that should be universal in all relationships.
Joy for life.
It didn’t matter if Maggie got a lick of peanut butter or a ride in the car, she was always happy. Dogs appreciate the small things and never take a treat for granted. It was the simple things Maggie appreciated the most -- laying on the couch with us for movie night or the piece of cheese she got before bed. Dogs live each day to the fullest and have such great happiness each and every day.
Forgiveness.
There were times I got mad at Maggie for ruining my homework (yes, she actually did that) or chasing the squirrels around the neighborhood. But each time, she never held a grudge. In fact, it seemed within minutes she forgot she was even in trouble. Dogs truly know the meaning of "forgive and forget."
Acceptance.
We live in a world where we spend so much time judging others and ourselves. I can't tell you how many times I sat on the couch makeup-less, eating bowls of popcorn, binge-watching Netflix with Maggie by my side. Dogs don’t judge. They refuse to care what size you wear or how many likes you get on Instagram. They love you for who you are. For how you treat them and more importantly how you treat yourself. Maggie always knew when I was sad or had a bad day. They are happy when you are happy.
In the time Maggie spent with us she taught me so much and I will forever be grateful.
I wish for one more car ride with her. I wish I could tell her how sorry I am. Sorry that we weren’t able to do more for her, that we did everything in our power to save her. You want to believe that your dog understands, that on some level they believe you. Believe that you are beyond thankful for how much they touched your life. Believe that your love for them is endless.
Thank you, Maggie, for being my hide and seek playing, Sunday morning waking, peanut butter loving best friend. You touched so many lives and will forever live in our hearts.
