17 years ago our dog, Tim-bit had her second litter of puppies. Sadly she did not live long past their birth due to blood poisoning. Having to hand-feed 5 daschund puppies was a chore, but one that my family did gladly. We all found ourselves captivated by the runt of this litter - the dog we would later keep and call Mikey.
To know Mikey you would never know he had been a runt. He was keen and hilarious. He would fetch a ball for HOURS (you literally would have to take and put away the ball just so he would stop and have a drink of water and rest for a while) and he always wanted to be around his family. If my mom would try to sneak out early in the morning to garden before my sister and I woke up, it never failed that within seconds of her leaving the house, Mikey would be barking and whining to be let out.
Mikey was the very first dog that my 2 dogs, Lewis & Murphy, ever met. Both of them took to him immediately - Lewis was happy just to hang out with him outside, and Murphy looked up to him from the start. Murphy would chase Mikey while Mikey chased his ball, and that became their game together.
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| Murphy & Mikey 2007 |
As he got older, Mikey's senses began to fail on him; but to the very end he wanted to chase his ball and be outside with his family. He was the best couch buddy to watch movies or tv with...as long as you didn't mind that he took up most of the room!
It is a very sad thing to have to say goodbye after 17 years. It leaves an empty space in my heart. Even though my sister and I haven't lived at home for a few years now, Mikey was no less loved or important to us than he was when we still lived with our parents. I will miss him terribly when I go to their house. I will miss his wagging tail, and seeing his face under the table during our family meals - waiting for someone to "accidentally" drop some food off their plate. Mikey has left me with more memories than I could try to write about, and that is the greatest gift he could give me. I'm sad that he's no longer with us, but I know we couldn't keep him forever. I'm so glad for the years we got to spend with him and he will always have a place in my heart.
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| Thanksgiving 2007 |
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| Mom & Mikey - Christmas 2009 |
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| Neene & Mikey - 2009 |
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| The Noonan Clan - 2009 |
Thank you Meg - that was beautiful - you really captured part of his spirit. It was funny you mentioned how he wouldn't let me sneak outside without him - tonight when I came home and changed I remembered how he always knew when I was changing into 'outside' clothes and wouldn't let me out of his sight. Sometimes I would hide in the bathroom when he ran ahead and he would always come back to find me and make sure I was heading to the door. I am so glad we all have some great memories of him. I had forgotten the game he played with Murphy - how Murph thought his part of the game was bringing the ball back to Mikey. Thanks for sharing this. Mom
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