I have always heard people say that losing a pet is never easy and I have seen many people go through it. I knew that eventually I would experience the pain everyone else has felt and talked about, but no matter how much your prepare for it, you are never really ready.
I had my dog, Taco since I was 8 years old. I remember seeing him and thinking he was the cutest little thing and I wanted to give him a family. He was only a couple of pounds (he fit in my pocket) and when I held him he didn't want to let go and clawed on to my shoulder. We took him home and he became my companion and brother from then on. When you have a bond with a dog, it is very hard to grasp the fact that they won't live as long as we do. As he got older he had a few health issues like many dogs do, but then we found out that he had heart failure and we were told that there wasn't much we could do other than to give him a good life and to administer some medication to help some of the symptoms. When a dog isn't feeling well, you want to help them in any way you can and it hurts that I couldn't do anything for him. My family and I made sure he ate well, that he was tucked into his bed at night with his favorite blanket, and that we kissed him goodnight.
Fast forward to two weeks ago: He wasn't doing too well, but I figured this was just one of those bad weeks for him as this usually happens. I had made plans to hang out with friends and was in such a rush that I forgot to say goodbye to him. Little did I know that this would be the last time I would see him. I came home very late and my parents had waited up for me to tell me that after I had left, his condition worsened and that they had rushed him to the vet. By the time they got there it was too late.
I was in shock and I was a wreck. I wanted to turn back time so that I could say goodbye and give him a kiss. I wanted to take one more picture with him to look back on, but I couldn't do any of this. It's extremely tough, but I know he's no longer suffering and that he has the freedom to run freely and play around without any troubles.
Dogs may not be with us for very long but we are with them for their whole lives. Not only do we leave an impact on them but they leave such an impact on us. They are who we come home to when our days are bad and no matter what they are always excited to see you. I don't know what we did to deserve dogs but I am so glad they exist. So, whether you have dealt with this or not, the heartbreak will be felt but the memories of them will always leave paw prints on our hearts.
