THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A LITTLE RED DOG!
LITTLE PEBBLES. THE MATRIARCH OF OUR PEKINGESE CLAN. AGE - 15 1/2 YEARS.
We had to put down our Little Mama, Pebbles, on Friday afternoon, June 22nd.
As dogs go, she had led a very full, long life. In the end, however, infection got the best of her, she weighed less than 8 pounds (down from 14 pounds a year ago), and was nothing but skin, red fur, and bones.
My relationship with our Little Red Dog goes back to the start of my relationship with Sue, my wife. When I first met Pebbles, she was little more than a puppy, but already littered three puppies of her own. Elvis went to Sue's sister in law in Washington State - we received word some years ago he had to be put to sleep. Eddie lived nearly his entire life in the Moss House, until he succumbed to kidney failure in October, 2005. We're still blessed with Pebbles' only daughter, Katie, now over 14 years old, with a touch of arthritis in her hind legs.
From the moment I met Sue, I also knew Pebbles. She greeted me at the door of Sue's house in Berwyn, and proceeded to madly hug me and lick me as if I were an old friend she hadn't seen in years - even though she just met me (how come people can't learn from little dogs - there surely would be no wars throughout the world!) The next time I came by, she nearly peed on my shoe, she was so excited to see me again. Jokingly, Sue mentioned that Pebbles was the litmus test of our relationship. If Pebbles did not like me - and she liked everybody - perhaps she would reconsider even going out with me. Lucky for me, Pebbles liked me, a lot, and Sue and I got married, November, 1998.
I hope it doesn't sound stupid, or trivial, or trite, but our pets really do become part of the family, enter your hearts, and never leave. I'll remember her shrill bark when we went out, and the same bark when we returned. The curiosity she always exhibited when my father-in-law and I were working together in our basement. The slightly arrogant tilt of the head when we called her name.
Just like a lost relative, Pebbles is now gone, but not gone. She remains in our hearts, a small, loving creature who gave us great joy.
She joins her son Eddie, as well as Corky, Eddie's father, a much larger peke, over 22 pounds full-grown. Sue's father, Wally, is up there, too, most likely working on a special project, with Pebbles butting her nose in. So is my father, Joe, all of my grandparents, many of my uncles and several of my aunts, and nearly all of Sue's uncles and aunts, some cousins, and both sets of her grandparents. There, too, is Roy, Sue's first husband, who, with Sue, purchased Pebbles from a couple in Cicero, IL in 1992. He died from diabetic shock at the age of 35, several years before I met Sue.
Pebbles, welcome home, Little Mama. Your in good hands now! One day, we'll all be together. But for now, we sure do miss you, your shrill bark, and your loving spirit.
A TEARFUL FEARLESS LEADER,
DEAN
