Pets are our home. They are our best friends, full of love and trust. It doesn’t matter what pet you own, whether it is a snake, hamster, dog, horse or fish. There is something special about them that only you know and can tell.
They’re there when you wake up in the morning—sunny or cloudy skies. They’re there when you have lost a loved one, and the universe seems to be against you. They’re there when you ace a test, and all seems right with the world.
One of the better parts of my life was owning pets, especially dogs. I don’t own dogs anymore, so most of the time I’m making memories with my neighbor dogs. These memories give me something to hold on to and cherish. I am thankful for the five dogs I have owned, who each had their own unique personalities and taught me valuable life lessons.
My husky, appropriately named Jumper, loved to jump fences no matter how high. A nursery rhyme should’ve been written about her jumping over the moon after the cow. She was full of energy and enjoyed running people over and covering them in big, wet kisses.
She answered the call of the wild during a walk around the river near our house. My mom and I were making our way home, calling for Jumper follow. She took one last look at us and disappeared over the hill.
I ran up the hill, still calling her name, my heart breaking and filled with fear. There was no trace of her. We had to leave, but still hoped she would come back. She was a spirit that could not be tamed, no matter how much we loved her and wanted her to stay. Jumper taught me sometimes you need to let the things you love go.
Princess was my least favorite dog because I misunderstood her. The beagle mix was old and feisty. With me being the playful child I was, I did not understand she did not want to be bothered by a kid. In the end, she died from old age.
I felt sad that she was gone. Princess taught me how to be patient and loving, even if it’s not appreciated as often as you would like.
My family and I adopted a Malamute Husky from the animal shelter. My dad loves those type of dogs because they are big and noble protectors.
We didn’t have Husky for very long because a tree fell on his dog house one windy night. I remember he loved to sit on top of his dog house and howl. Husky was too big, but he managed to make himself fit. He was hyper, yet more homely instead of wild like Jumper.
I learned sometimes life throws unexpected things your way, but there are good things down the road that will give you more wonderful memories, like howling from the rooftop, to keep close to your heart.
Tom was a chocolate brown German Wirehaired Pointer my family and I also adopted from the shelter. He looked like a drowned rat when wet, but I swear he invented the phrase “puppy eyes.”
Tom would set his bearded face on your lap and look into your eyes with an overwhelming sense of love so deep you could drown in it. I didn’t know how amazing it would be to give a shelter pup another chance at life. Tom helped me decide that all my future dogs would come from a shelter.
My family and I returned home from a Halloween event to find him missing. We believe someone fell in love with his sweet personality like we did and took him home, thinking he was a stray because he didn’t have a collar.
This lap dog taught me the importance of showing love to everyone, because you never know what kind of an impact you will have on their life.
Samuel was the first dog I had ever raised from the puppy stage. Our next-door neighbors let us have our pick of the litter, and I chose the smallest Great Pyrenees mix in the bunch.
I remember waking up to his warmth on my neck in the early morning hours before school. My mom would take him out of his cardboard kennel to clean it up and had him snuggle with me until she was done. He needed lots of care growing up. My maternal instincts kicked in, and I made sure to watch over him and give him lots of love and attention.
Samuel’s death hit me the hardest. I was in 8th grade, and my mother waited until school was done that day to tell me.
After he was hit by a car, dazed and in pain he made his way underneath my window in the backyard. My dad came outside when he heard a yelp and held him as he took his last breaths.
I couldn’t be there for him, yet he was searching for me in his last moments. To have an animal love you enough to make that kind of an effort, pained me more than words can express and gave me an awe for how completely dogs can love humans.
All my dogs taught me how to love deeper and to treasure every moment I have with them before they are snatched away. As this year draws to a close, you should reflect on what you have without getting stuck in the past.
Remember what brought you where you are now, and how you can change for the better in the future after looking at past experiences, whether they are sad or joyful. Those experiences shape who you are.
Kim Stager can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @journalismgoals.