My Ode to Missy
I adopted her at a rescue event at a local Petsmart
It was in the hottest month of August, 2001.
She was lying down, calm, looking a little lost
Amid a brace of barking crazy. little dogs.
I asked about her. We met.
A mix between whippet and Labrador.
Long legged, slim, coming mid-thigh in height
She was what could be called a tan and white mongrel.
Around nine months to a year old.
A mutt.
I fell in love.
I hoped my husband would accept
The newest in our menagerie.
She needed reassurance and love.
In addition, boundaries were necessary
Plus, those necessary lessons in manners
That dogs so desperately need.
We formed a bond of friendship:
Owner to dog, Pack leader to pack member
After she learned and knew
This was her permanent family.
It took six months.
To finally relax and stop worrying.
She was our girls’ dog during their teen years.
Missy put up with Santa hats on her head,
reindeer antlers during Christmas time.
Pictures were taken
Memories were made
We would make up nicknames for her.
Mine was Mishugunna an old word
Meaning crazy or silly.
One nickname got so silly
We would hysterically laugh
As we tried to add to it.
Missy Von Whipp Lichtenstein the First.
Also known as the famous model
Miss Maybelline
Due to the black encircling her eyes.
She always wore makeup.
Fireworks beyond her comprehension
Thunder booming during storms
Would send her shivering in fright
To a couch or at a desk
I ended up with a dog close to me.
Our couch potato chose one
to make herself comfortable on
We called it Missy’s couch
I lofted a blanket over it for her to lie on.
The first day in our house
One of our cats walked up,
Rubbed across Missy’s legs.
Missy took off whining;
Scared out of her wits
She later made good friends
with Nanny Cat
So many memories
Such fun times
Dog parks, walks in the neighborhood,
Playing with her girls,
Spending time with her family.
This is still Missy to us.
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end
One weekend she would not eat, not even special treats.
I knew we would end up at the vet.
Examinations and X-rays taken
We were given sad news.
Kidney and liver disease had crept
into our loyal friend
We chose to let her go
Before the hurting and pain
became all her reality.
We stayed saying love tidbits
Through to the very end.
A sympathy card full
of condolences from the vet staff
arrived with a pawprint.
Another arrived from our groomer
telling us she would be missed.
Her cremated remains are in a box
On a bookshelf in my library
Along with a red collar
license still attached
A ceramic pawprint rests on top
Written by K. Soto 1/17/2019