Love

The photo above is Bailey. She will be two years old on November 28th. I think most people that read the title "Love" would assume it would be about a romantic partner. Sorry to disappoint, but this is about my dog.

My husband and I decided that after my dog Jack passed that we would not purchase another dog so we could travel more and not worry about someone to look after the animals.

Even though I have had a dog my entire life, I agreed with him, but the universe had other plans.

I live next door to a Golden Retriever breeder. He hired me to take care of his dogs while he was away. One of his dogs was named Rosie, was pregnant. I started my early morning routine by coming in and finding out that she had given birth. I had come in and watched her give birth. The next puppy that came out was Bailey; although Rosie went after her like she was biting her, I picked her up and removed her. I didn't know.  

I called my daughter to have her come and help, and she arrived to help see the next puppy get delivered. She asked me to get a rag, and while I was away, she gave birth again, but this time she ate the puppy. I didn't know.

I soon realized this little puppy couldn't latch onto and drink milk, so I decided to hand-feed the puppy. I woke up every two hours to feed the puppy. The puppy was with me twenty-four hours, seven days a week.  

After a month of feeding her, I noticed mucus coming out of her nose, so I took her to my neighbor's vet. Unfortunately, I wasn't ready for the news he was about to deliver to me. She had a cleft palate (an opening at the roof of her mouth) and her back legs were a little deformed. So his recommendation was to have her "put down."

I cried all the way home. The puppy was under deposit, so my neighbor had to confirm if the person still wanted the puppy. The response was no. He then told me that I could keep her or he would take her to the vet to be "put down."

After caring for this little girl for over a month, there was no way I could put her down, and my husband agreed with me. His vet gave me this gadget that you need to stick down her throat to get food that would help nourish her. Something inside me told me another way, so I began researching it.

Thank God for the internet because it allows us to hear experiences from people who have tried other ways and had many successes.

We have since then had her cleft palate repaired. The operation was to close up the hole, but it wasn't a complete success; she does have an inch and a half slit opening.

Today she is thriving. She is not as big as her sisters. She tires out quickly. And is a picky eater who burps a lot. She is always by my side and goes with me to as many places as I can bring her. 

My heart is whole, and the love pours out of me whenever I see her. She came into my life for a reason, and I am so grateful.