May 30

Today marks five long years since my aunt died unexpectedly. I actually thought my cousin was calling about my Grandma since we all expected my grandma, at age 96, to die first.

My cousin called me at 6 am and I was just shocked by what she told me. Then I had to call my mom and tell her. That was very difficult. It was horrible.

I still miss my dear aunt. I miss sharing a whole lot of stuff with her. I just miss talking to her too. We were always very close.

As the years go by, I have less and less bad days, but I still ocassionally have those bad days.

Oddly, one year ago my dog died on this day too. I posted about Otis here. He's the one right in front. I still miss him a lot too. He was my special dog. He loved my aunt too. I brought Otis out on a plane to visit my aunt and her dogs.
I know I will never have another Otis in my life, he was that special.....

Animals

I have always had a cat or a dog. I used to be a huge cat person but when I got married I started to like dogs more.

Then I started visiting my Grandma, who lived with my aunt. You've read about them here.

My aunt had Jack Russells and I told my husband that I had
to get one. The timing wasn't right but it wasn't too long before we got our puppy.

One time vising my aunt, I had a dream about my new dogs name. He would be named Otis.

We found a woman that breeds JRT's and we went to look at puppies. She had some 10 week old puppies that we thought we would be choosing from. Instead, when we got there, there were also three brothers that were about 3 months old. The last of their litter to be chosen.

We visited with each puppy and then husband and I talked and agreed on one dog. That was our Otis. The breeder told us we had chosen the most loving of the three puppies.

We took Otis home and he was my buddy. He went everywhere with me. He even flew out to visit my aunt and grandma!!

When Otis was 7 months old, his mom had another litter of puppies. We also went to get one of those puppies. We named him Louie. He and Otis were the best of friends. They played, ate and slept together. They were like, well the brothers that they were!!

They both were my buddies. They went a lot of places with us and they were the best lap dogs.

Then Otis got sick and died. I still miss him even though it's been 3 months now.

Louie still misses him a lot too. And I can't do anything for Louie.

When my aunt died, about 6 months later my husband drove out to Maryland to get her dogs. She had 2 JRT's and a mixed dog.

We still have the female--her name is Sophie. She is the same age as Louie and Otis. So they are still young at 6 yrs. Louie has known Sophie his whole life so the transition of her living here hasn't been too hard. She's been with us almost 4 years now and is a good fit for us. Plus I think she keeps Louie company now.

I know that one day I will get more dogs, and they will likely be Jack Russells. And I already have names picked out for them.

I also know that another dog can never replace my sweet Otis.

There is a fun animal site that always makes me laugh and smile. It's over on the sidebar and it's called Cute Overload. I promise if you are feeling down it will make you laugh and smile.

Two months.........

It's been two long months since we lost our Otis.

We all miss him.

His brother Louie is still sad. He is eating and drinking but he is sad.

He's not the same without his buddy.

One month later..

Today marks one month since I lost my Otis.

I am still so sad to not have him around anymore.

Most of all I am still in shock and stunned that I would bring my 6 year old dog to the vet and not bring him home.

Louie still looks for his buddy and that makes me sad too. And you can just tell by his countenance that he is sad. Louie has started to sometimes be at the door when we arrive home.

I know in time it will get easier but for now I am sad and I miss Otis.

There are a lot of day to day little things that remind me of him, and I know in time these little hurts will fade as well.

We go on, living day to day, missing our friend and buddy.

Sad eyes...

This is my gentle Louie.

It's been a week since we lost Otis and Louie is sad.

Sometimes he looks for Otis outside. It's very sad.

Otis and Louie were brothers just 7 months apart. Louie had Otis in his life forever and now there is no more Otis.

They slept together and played together and ate together. They were buddies.

I know he's just a dog but he is sad.

I hope he perks up soon.

Dogs..............................

And then there were two. Again.

Dogs. Cats. Pets.

I have always had animals. First it was cats. We always had cats growing up.

Then I got a cat 2 years before I had my daughter. That cat lived about 19 years. She had a cat stroke one Saturday night.

Two of my brothers had dogs. They were Irish Setters and they were beautiful dogs. One was Tommy and the other was Ian.

Ian died and shortly after that Tommy died. They were buddies and I think Tommy was heartbroken when Ian died.

When I first got married my husband had a German Shepard. Her name was Sandee. She was hit by a car on the road we live on.

We also had a Border Collie named Rocky. He was a great dog. After Sandee died we got Maddie. She was Rocky's sister. They were a year apart. So for many years we had Rocky and Maddie.

Then Rocky ran into a tree and broke his back. He was playing with another dog that was a brute. We had to put Rocky to sleep because we couldn't fix his back.

Maddie was very sad. While Rocky was still alive we got Otis. Otis loved Rocky.

Otis and Louie were two when I had my son.

Otis was my special dog. He was a Jack Russell. I treated him like a baby. He went everywhere with me. He even took two plane trips with me! He never said a word, just slept the whole time we were flying.

So Rocky, Maddie and Otis were all friends.

After we put Rocky down, we got Louie. Louie is Otis' brother. They were just 7 months apart--same parents. Louie and Otis were buddies and I think Louie is missing Otis. It makes me sad.

When my son was 3 months old, my Aunt died. She had three dogs. One mixed breed and two Jack Russells. We inherited those three dogs when my boy was 9 months old.

We had to find a new home for one of them. The other one was older and didn't do well around my boy.

So we were down to four dogs.

Then Maddie started getting sick. It was rather sudden. She was 12 when we had to put her down. The little dogs missed her I think.

Then my special Otis died. I miss my Otis.

He loved my son. When we first brought the baby home, Otis stood on his back feet and looked into the carrier and licked my baby!!! Every time my boy would cry, Otis would be right there looking at me. It was almost as if he was telling me to do something for the baby!!!

I really really miss Otis already. And the two dogs miss Otis too. and my boy misses Otis too.

So we went from 2 dogs to 3 dogs. Then 2 dogs again, then 3 dogs again. Then 6 dogs, then 5 dogs, then 4 dogs then 3 dogs.

Now we have 2 dogs again. And we are not getting any more dogs. Two is the limit anymore.

It seems a little more quiet in the house now. Otis used to greet me at the door. Sophie just barks and Louie never comes to the door anymore. He only came to the door if Otis did and he rarely barked. Odd for a JRT, but my two boy JRT's were mellow Jacks.

A bad day today...................

My special special dog Otis died today. That's him in the front kind of curled up.

He was sick very suddenly and I brought him to the vet and he stopped breathing

The vets did what they could but he was gone.

I am so sad. Otis was my buddy. My special dog.