Having lived in a series of places and apartments, I've never been able to have a pet of my own. That being said, I became the "aunt" of my friends' dogs - a poodle/terrier cross named Babe, and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Obie. I'd see them 2-3 times a week and I would also see them every day when my friends would go on extended vacations and I'd dog/house sit for 3-4 weeks. I loved them so much. They absolutely went crazy whenever I came over (probably because they knew I would bring a treat with me). They'd sleep with me at night and wake me at 5 AM by crawling up on my chest and putting their noses in my face. If I was having a hard day, they'd crawl up on my lap or lie on my feet.

Obie didn't like it when I'd pack up to go home when my friends came home from vacation. He would come sit in my suitcase to try and prevent me from packing. Once, when I to go do something in the midst of packing, he took all of my clothes out of my suitcase, spread them all over the bedroom and hallway, and laid down in my suitcase as if expecting that I would change my mind and stay.

Both dogs went gone to Doggy heaven about 3 years ago now, and I miss them greatly.

I was 49 and asleep one night when I woke up in horrible pain all down my right side, three disks had slipped out in my C-spine and compressed the nerve root at C-7, causing extreme muscle spasms and pins and needles all down the right side.  I had spinal surgery and when I wanted to go back to work, my company said no and placed me on LTD.  I became so depressed that they didn't want me back, I felt my life was over.  When I sought counseling, my therapist suggested that I get a pet, thus came my Tigger the Tiger Wannabe.  Tigger runs my house and me, he's a male grey striped tiger cat, 25 lbs., 36" from nose to end of tail and stands 12" tall from shoulder to the ground - a BIG boy.  He is by no means a "lap" cat and very independent, but when I'm sad he's right there, when I'm ill he sleeps beside me, when I talk to him he wags his tail, when he wants a drink from the bathroom faucet he calls me and when I ignore him and read my book, he will nip my leg for my attention.  Tigger also sits up for treats and walks sedately on a leash with his harness.  He did find out that if he backs up and pulls hard enough he can slip out of the harness, so I have to keep my eye on him.  Tigger's brought love and laughter back into my life.  He's friend and confident, he's never told my secrets to anyone and I love him dearly.

In 2009, I was diagnosed with Intercostal Neuropathy on my right side. The pain was excruciating and the burning even worse. I began cycles of meds only to have a reaction to so many that the decision to treat the pain with pain meds was agreed upon. Later, I was diagnosed with CVID and numerous other illnesses/diseases. Thus, began my journey of IVIG, Sub-q infusions, pain medications, and other meds for one thing or another.

I knew I was depressed and not feeling well on most days and felt I needed something or someone that needed ME. I mentioned to my husband one day that I really wanted  puppy. He agreed, thus our journey began -to find just the "right" puppy for our home. We quite possibly looked at, petted and cuddled, and played with at least 25 dogs. Most people fall in love with the first pup they hold - not me, I just didn't feel needed by any of the pups we had seen.

Within a few weeks, I had almost given up when I decided to visit our local pet store. There, in the owners arms was the most adorable, sad looking, fawn colored Pug puppy - chewing (or sucking?) on the store ower's sleeve. I smiled and quickly asked if I could hold him. Of course, "no" was probably not in this sweet, kind, soft spoken lady's vocabulary. As I held the puppy, he looked into my eyes, and kind of purred - like a kittend. I felt something, in my heart, that I had not felt in a long time - NEEDED. This little fur ball in my arms needed someone to love and take care of him, and that someone was going to be me. So, I bought the Pug, supplies, food, toys, bedding, oh...everything you can imagine, loaded the car and to home we traveled.

Since our new puppy was registered, we felt he deserved a fancy, royal name, thus Sir Albert Rufus Ray Keagle was knighted with his given name. "Rufus" as we call him fit right into our life. He is now a member of our family and nothing is done or changed without his approval.

Rufus takes very good care of me, staying as close to the bed as he can get when I am having a bad day. If I am sick, he lies at my feet and listens for the phone, door bell, or strange noises. He makes me move - I guess he thinks I sit too much or something because he forces me to get up and do things. Rufus loves to chase things, but loves even more fighting with my husband or I over the toy of his choosing. He is so funny when playing catch, I always laugh and chuckle for quite some time over his facial expressions and growls as he "fights" to hold on to his "catch." Everynight at bedtime, my husband will say, "Time for bed, come give mama a kiss and hug." Rufus jumps up on the bed, lays his head on my chest, gently licks the side of my face,then goes to the hallway to sleep in his bed right outside our bedroom door! Don't get me wrong, he is not perfect and never will he be.

What Rufus is makes me happy, has decreased my depression - I still need meds, has shown me loyalty and understand, and has left me feeling needed and loved just the way I am. I don't even get those things from my family! I love feeling needed, always have. I love Rufus as if he were my family...well, perhaps just a little bit more.

Healing Hearts through Paws

Healing Hearts through Paws