This post will only make sense to those pet lovers out there. I always remember having a pet growing up. As a child we always had a dog in the house and I was always bringing kittens home from who knows where. Never fail, I think every single cat or other animal I brought home was named Molly. Fast forward to college, Jason and I had been dating for about two years and he asked his parents for a dog for his birthday. We took a trip down to his hometown for a little family celebration and much to my surprise his dad had looked around a gave Jason a 3 month old Black Lab. Cutest thing and full of so much energy. When Jason asked me what I wanted her name to be, of course I offered up Molly. So little Miss Chevious Molly she was.
This is a picture of Jason, Molly, and me just a few days after getting her at a Fourth of July party in 2005. She was such a good dog. Although I am sure we did, I don't remember having any trouble training her. Of course Jason and I had bought a couple of books and videos on how to train dogs..lol. So we were well prepared. It wasn't even a year after we got Molly that we had decided to get another dog and had set our sights on a Golder Retriever puppy. We were very fortunate to have found a breeder in Jackson, Kentucky, the Anderson's. The couple that we got in touch with will forever be considered friends of mine. I remembered that Jason and I didn't have enough money to cover their full asking price and all I remember is how they stressed over and over that they just wanted their dogs to be in good, loving homes. Jason had emailed them some information about himself and me, and we were able to work out a cost that worked for all of us. We took a trip to Jackson to "pick out" which puppy we wanted. It came to us so easy, there was one male puppy that liked to snuggle up to Jason's chest when he would hold it. This was our puppy.
The day the puppies were released by the vet as being ready to go to their separate homes we got a call from the Anderson's. Jason and I immediately jumped in the car to go pick him up. We couldn't wait to bring him home to Molly. We named him Handsome Hank. As you can see in the picture above Molly was a great teacher of all things dog for Hank. She was surprisingly gentle with him and let him bite and pull on her ears all the time. So it was life with two dogs. I am still not sure if Hank ever really learned how to ask to go outside on his own, he just always followed Molly.
This picture is from 2006, it was part of Jason and mine''s Engagement pictures. It is funny how the dogs have such different personalities. Molly has always been more laid back and well behaved, while Hank was into everything and always had to be the center of attention. I am laughing in all of the pictures we took with the dogs. We would get Hank to sit down and every time we tried getting him to lay down he would lay down and then immediately roll over, belly up to show everyone his goods. He was so proud of himself.
This picture was Halloween 2010. My three little dogs..ha. There was a lot of worry about how the dogs would do when we brought Haley home from the hospital. A lot of un-needed worrying. They have been great with her from day one. Haley climbs all over them, and gives them hugs and kisses all the time. I am so glad we have so many pictures and videos of her with them.
This was taken February 2011. Unfortunately this is where our story takes a turn, this is the last family picture with both dogs. In December 2010 we found out that Hank had bone cancer and would only have a few months left to live before his pain would become unmanageable and we would need to put him down. That day came soon after this picture was taken. It was by far the worst experience of my life. I wish I never had to do it. Then in the following days I had to listen to Haley running all over the house looking for him, mostly each morning and after each nap. At 14 months old, I didn't realize how much Haley's day revolved around him. At this point it has been less than three months since that day and just as we think things are coming to a new normal for our household. This week we learned that Molly has very large tumors growing in her liver and spleen. The specialist we took her to told us we would have maybe "weeks" with her. Could this really be happening? I ask myself all the time and the truth is Yes, it is. I can't believe it, but it is. I guess in the large scheme of things, the two of them really do belong together. So I ask you to give a little extra love to your pets, let them know you need them. Over the past week I have received many words of support, even some cards and flowers. But there is one friend who sent the following that always seems to bring a tear to my eye and peace in my heart, so that is what I will end this with:
The Rainbow Bridge
inspired by a Norse legend
By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.
For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.
No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.
They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.
For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.
The sadness they felt while they were apart, Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.
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