A Hole in Your Heart

I think that everyone knows that we have a Basset Hound named Droopy.  Charles and I got him back in 2004  a couple of months after my Mom passed away.  I initiated getting him for a couple of reasons.  First of all, I grew up with dogs so once Charles and I had a house it seemed like the thing that was missing.  Secondly, my Mom LOVED dogs so rescuing a dog and making it a part of our family definitely would have made her happy, so getting Droopy took away a small piece of the loss and sadness I was feeling.  Lastly, I thought it would be good for Charles and I to take care of something together as we were still newlyweds at the time.  Mind you, we killed 50% of our house plants, but hey that at least meant the dog would have a 50/50 chance. ;-)  Anyway, after a little research I found the Arizona Basset Hound Rescue and on their website I found Droopy (he was named Cleo at the time, which seemed like a girl named to me, and since he had already had like four different names, I figured what was one more, and decided he would be Droopy).  I filled out the application and Charles and I were interviewed and our home was visited.  We passed!!!!  We were now the proud new parents of a five year old basset.  Droopy is a wonderful dog.  He is sweet, gentle, loving, SO EASY to take care of.  He really is the perfect dog for us.  He was Charles' first dog so I took a back seat when it came to feeding, walking, training, etc. so that he and Charles would really bond and they did.  They are two  peas in a pod and Droopy easily favors Charles (unless Melanie and I have a treat for him, then he ignores him like you wouldn't believe). :)

Droopy eagerly welcomed Melanie into our family and from day one he has shown her nothing but love and patience.  When she was an infant he would lick her face (leaving a drool puddle) and just sit there while she would pat at his face and try to grab his ears.  As a toddler he would tolerate her as she would fall on him or pet him maybe a little too hard sometimes.  Now he equally adores her and looks forward to their walks and loves the fact she is always on the floor which means belly rubs for him.  Melanie loves him a ton and refers to him as her brother.

Well, yesterday I took Droopy to the vet and we are devastated to learn that Droopy is in heart failure and probably only has about three months left with us.  We knew it would happen soon enough as he is approaching 14 years old and has always had a heart murmur, but it's still tough to face.  I spent my afternoon educating myself on what to do to make sure his quality of life continues as long as possible and also preparing for how to tell Melanie.  It was almost as terrible as telling her about my Dad as she just sat in my arms crying for what seemed like forever.  There is nothing worse than breaking your child's heart, but we wanted her to know he was sick so she would have time to process and also not be surprised when his time does come.  The toughest comment came this morning when I was doing her hair and she said to me, "Mommy I am really going to miss Droopy, I just love him so much.  I think there will be a hole in my heart."  All I could do was hold her while she cried again and tell her I know and how sorry I am as I too bawled.  She then consoled me with, "At least he will get to live with Grandpa and he can take care of Droopy."  She really is my daily blessing! 

Nothing but praises to God for bringing us such a sweet dog to take care of all these years and prayers as we do our best to care for him until his time is gone.  We love you Droopy!!!!