To all the animals I have loved before... Part 1

I have never really sat and thought about how the animals I have known have affected my life; until today as I sat looking out the window of my small apartment that I share with my husband. I have a dog back in California,but I am without a dog here in Oklahoma.
Shadow is the first dog I can remember in my life. Shadow was a white, male, Miniature poodle and my best friend. He would follow me outside to the backyard, front yard, and even hid with me in the closet when I was scared. Shadow and I did many things together we played fetch, helped with chores, went on walks, camping, and even did family fire drills together. He was with me until at age eleven he started having seizures and due to the impact it had on his health he was euthanized. I do have fond memories of him those of which I will share one. He was still young and decided since the back door was open to go out on a adventure and ended up down the street playing with some of the neighborhood children. So Shadow had a good life and never wanted for anything.
Now on to Rebel a very free spirited Cocker Spaniel who was not mine but rather my Aunt Sissy dog. Rebel was white with liver colored spots all over his body. Rebel spent his life being loved and cared for by my Auntie. He was friendly to everyone and everything, he was a goofball and loved being outside. He wasn't in my life for a long time but he was a buddy just the same. He had a companion named Tigger ,orange tabby cat, who acted just like him and died before him. I remember Rebel being in my life until the age of 8 ( my age not his) my aunt found him having a stroke one day and rushed him to the veterinarian but the damage was done he was put down. My aunt told me it was better for him to be with Tigger and I never understood why until later in life. Enough with the depressing part onto my favorite memory of Rebel is my Aunt , Rebel and me camping in her Toyota mini van in the San Bernadino Mountains. We were out for a hike and found this creek which I and Rebel immediately went running into and would not get out of until it turned cold. I am blessed to have known this dog.
Scrappy, Bridgette and Scruffy, the Moreno Valley gang, belonged to my Aunt Linda. Scrappy and Bridgette were two shih-tzus and Scruffy was a terrier mutt. We will start with Scrappy and Bridgette since they were brother and sister. Now it is just my opinion that they were gotten to help my Auntie to get over a rough patch in her life. They were cute and adventurous little dogs who loved to be in the pool on their doggie boat. They would occasionally jump out and try to swim around. Scrappy and Bridgette were world class escape artists too, they would dig under the fence or jump out a low open window and explore their neighborhood. Scrappy and Bridgy would often be delivered by the mailman, UPS, or Fed EX driver or simply brought home by a neighbor. Scrappy and Bridgette like most dogs had health problems. Scrappy had a narrowing of the spinal cord and Bridgette went blind. Even in their older years they would still escape Bridgette holding up Scrappy and Scrappy being Bridgette's eyes. Bridgette lived to be about 13 or 14 years old and Scrappy lived a few years beyond her. I would say the favorite memory of them was a Summer day and them riding in the doggie boat in the pool.
Scruffy was a stray terrier mix that my Aunt Linda happened upon one day and decided what the heck I'll take him. Scruffy was a wild man he dug, rolled around in dirt, chased flies, never could walk on leash , ran quickly and often,and howled at the moon. He hated new people especially men. Once you were proven to be okay in his book Scruffy would love you like there was no tomorrow. Scruffy got along well with Scrappy and Bridgette and taught them the fine gourmet art of eating "trash". Scruffy was always peeing on stuff even after he was fixed. He was the classic example of don't judge a book by it's beginning because in the end Scruffy was a good boy. Who while none of us know how old he really was, is missed by my Aunt and me. I am not sure of a favorite memory but he had this Mickey Mouse shaped marking on his back. He had a accident and it was decided that he would suffer and not have a very good life so my Aunt Linda had him put down. Now a Happy Memory involving all three of the gang : Picture a table full of yummy food and three dogs eating their little hearts out. My aunt says she will never have another pet again .
What can be said about Chucky, he was Aunt Sissy's dog after Rebel, rescued from a Humane Society in upstate New York in the fall or winter. Chucky like all good Chihuahua terrier mix was full of life and was naturally suspicious of new people. He loved my Auntie so much that if he thought you were hurting her he would nip and growl and if you didn't stop you were done for. He was a good boy. I remember one time I was out walking him by myself and this guy got a little too close and I guess Chucky thought or felt a bad vibe because he lunged and the guy had ventilated ankle jeans. He was not viscous or aggressive just protective. He loved other dogs as long as,they were introduced correctly. Many years later after my auntie moved back to California Chucky became ill with cancer and had to be euthanized for it had gotten too far along. Believe me I know my Aunt loved Chucky and did all she could for him.
Lady was another rescue mutt ( cocker-beagle ) that my Aunt Sissy found in a alley. Lady was a love bug and would let you do anything to her. No one can say for sure but we think miss Lady was abused. Lady would always be wagging her tail, stub actually so hard that her whole back end would go back and forth. Lady was a extremely loud snorer and a blanket hog, I know because she and I shared a bed. Lady had horrible allergies and had to have doggie benadryl and aspirin. She loved to be outside and with people which caused her allergies to be worse to the point where she had to wear little boots on her feet ( mutt lucks). She was a companion to Chucky and I think she kinda died of a broken heart because once Chucky was gone she just wasn't the same ;Oh sure she would run and play and eat but it just wasn't the same. A favorite memory of the two of them, Camping at Pismo Beach and hiking with them and then having them sleep in the trailer with me.
Dixie, what can I say about Dixie, she became a member of the family shortly after Shadow crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. Dixie was a miniature Schnauzer with bow legs, pointy ears, and long tail. She is the reason I fight to stop animal abuse . We got her from a humane society the people there said she was brought in by the previous owner because he didn't want her anymore. The best my family and I could figure is that a man must of kicked her alot because she was fine as long as you didn't make a kicking motion at her. If you tried to push her lightly with your foot you would have to count your toes. She also had a laundry list of health problems hyperthyroidism, schnauzer bumps, digestive problems and finally allergies. Despite the problems she was fearless when it came to the vacuum cleaner, balls big or small were her prey, running from the front to the back door , long walks and ice cream oh my word she loved ice cream. Dixie was the only dog I know that actually enjoyed baths it was a good thing too because with her skin condition she needed two a week. Dixie also enjoyed being at the vet's, she spent a lot of time there. Dixie was the dog who saw me through junior high, Kenny, high school, and part of college. She is also the dog who made me realize that perhaps being a vet was not a good choice for me. It was not because I couldn't take care of sick animals or handle aggressive ones, it was because as she died in my arms I could not imagine being the one to have to tell a child, adult or teenager that their friend or family is over the rainbow bridge. I know many of you who read this will wonder what that was about . You see Dixie is gone and has been since December 19,2003, she was euthanized because of Cushings disease and liver failure . I was the one to make the fateful decision. I knew it was time for her to go in my head but my heart oh my breaking heart couldn't let her die alone so as the vet took and placed the needle into the I.V. I held her and watched her simply go to sleep. My dad was there holding me up so I wouldn't fall. Okay my eyes are dry now and I can now tell you one of many favorite memories . Dixie and I went down to Huntington Beach to three dog barkery to have our picture taken. Well it was a uneventful picture experience. On the way home Dixie being a dog need to make a potty stop so we found a park and she went potty and then decided to embark on a game I will call find the french fry there was a french fry in the grass about 20 feet away and spent at least two minutes trying to get the fry. I still think of her often and sometimes late at night, I see her in the house in California. I know that my current dog Maisy was born a month after Dixie passed away but I swear Maisy has a bit of Dixie in her.
Rambo and Bambi, the Anaheim duo, Rambo was born on September 11,or maybe that is when he was reborn Rambo Mitchell. Rambo was a beautiful mini poodle who loved and protected my grandparents from threats real and imagined. Rambo enjoyed life very much and was spoiled . Rambo had many toys, snacks, meals and was very much loved. Rambo had many doggie friends and a sister her name is Bambi( cock-poo) who is two years younger then Rambo. Together Rambo and Bambi enjoyed camping, walks, doggie parks, car rides and beaches. Rambo's biggest vice was he was a blanket chewer and had a small skin allergy. Rambo is no longer with the Mitchells due to a health problem that came on rather suddenly and there was nothing that could be done to save him so he went to join all the beloved animals over the rainbow bridge.I haven't really told alot of people this but after I received the call from my Grandma I had a dream that I was at their house and Rambo was at the park across the street and he barked to get my attention and I waved goodbye and he ran off into the light . Perhaps my favorite memory of Rambo is when I was dog-sitting him and his sister was trying to get Rambo to let me on the bed and he growled at me but as the week went on he didn't growl anymore and then on the last day he fell asleep on my lap while waiting for the Mitchells to return.
Bambi the cock-poo is sweetest girl ever . She rarely chases other animals, loves walks, car rides, and all kinds of food. She used to chew up everything as a puppy including one of my shirts that I gave her so she wouldn't be cold on the ride to the Mitchells. I don't really think she has any health problems other then being a little fluffy. I thought that when Rambo passed away she would be devastated but she seems to have bounced back pretty well. I guess my favorite memory of Bambi is trying to sleep with her on the bed when dog sitting because she is a bed hog. Bambi is now a big sister to Jerry Lee also a cock poo whom I have yet to meet.
Maisy my current dog who is residing in Cali while I am in Oklahoma. Maisy became a part of the family on President's day 2004. She is a miniature schnoodle with attitude. She was the cutest little black fur ball you ever saw. We brought her home and she immediately started inspecting her new home and then she was let out to the back yard and was swallowed up by grass. Maisy is a fairly healthy little bean, she has luxating patellas, which has been fixed, small skin allergy, and hates being bathed. She loves going to the Veterinarian's and seeing them all, she enjoys the groomer and her husband. Maisy is a talker which means she barks, growls and makes piggish noises. She enjoys all the people that are invited to the house the only exception is the termite guy. She enjoys going for short walks, car rides, sleeping on boy, begging for food, and playing with toys. She is the dog who saw me through college, two failed jobs,and the loss of grandma P. I would love to say that if Maisy didn't like my husband I would of married him anyway but I wouldn't have; so lucky for him she did/does. Maisy doesn't like spiders, birds or cats. She has never harmed a bird or cat but has several times killed spiders. I think her favorite person in the world is Don our next door neighbor, Boy( my dad) , Grandpa, any other male, mom( me), and then Robin Girl( my mom). Maisy has a peculiar habit when scared, ill,or just wanting warmth of climbing onto Boy's belly and laying there with him supporting her body with his arm. If there is one memory that is my favorite is her trying to figure out why Boy and Grandpa were outside in the rain and just as she got outside a lightning flash and thunder broke and she yelped and tried to climb into boy's pant leg.
Howie is a orange tabby cat who prowls the apartment complex where I live he belongs to someone in the complex. Howie is really affectionate for a cat, in fact, the other day he brought me a baby bird that fell out of it's nest and died, which I took to the trash bin outside and threw it in. Howie likes to escort you everywhere: trashcan, mailbox, to your vehicle,and finally to your apartment, where he expects a reward. Howie comes into the apartment when my husband isn't home looks around and leaves and sit on the porch under one of our windows. There are alot of people around the complex including the maintenance guys, manager and office workers that feed and pet him. I hope that he will be a indoor cat only some day but for now I feed and pet him when he shows up at my door.
So these are some of the animals I have loved before others are/ were:Cognac,Barney, Harley, Charlie, Shiloh, Baxter, Tia, Zipper, Micheal, Reba, Sydney,Indy, Hallie, Manatu, Jake , Jack, Zero, Gretel, Honey bee, little bits, Shelby, joey bag of doughnuts, Domino,and Money not because I have met them all but because the people who own/ owned them mean so much to me more then perhaps then they know.
* I am sorry if this is hard for some of you to read and if I got dates wrong or places I am sorry there are just so many animals that I have known and loved. So thank you and please adopt a animal, don't buy from pet stores.