Tuesday, June 12, 2018

World Pet Memorial Day Memories

   World Pet Memorial Day is celebrated on the second Tuesday in June each year. It is a day to remember the amazing animals that have been part of our lives. We’ve been blessed with wonderful cats and dogs over the years. It is way too easy to dwell on how much we miss them or our final good-byes. I know they would much rather I remember the smiles and laughs they gave me instead of the tears. Today, in honor of some of my best friends, I am sharing funny stories so they can make you laugh too.
   Meet George. He was my very first dog when I was in junior high school. A dog all my own. The ad in the newspaper was for FREE Cocker Spaniel puppies. I know Cocker Spaniels. I have seen Cocker Spaniels. George was no Cocker Spaniel but he was a great dog. 
   When I lived on my own in a tiny trailer, George joined a motorcycle “gang” down the street. It was really a garage where they worked on cars and motorcycles. He loved to hang out there with them while I was gone during the day. He’d come home with grease on his head after “work.”
   This is Miss Gitty. I adopted her from the Humane Society the summer I graduated high school. George was living at my mom’s house, but my landlord allowed cats. Gitty was the best! I always laugh when I think of her eating french fries. They were her favorite human food but she would only eat them with ketchup! She lived to be 20 so we grew into adulthood together.
    Miss Gitty was fearless and didn’t think twice about swatting our two German Shepherds’ on the nose if they got in her business. There was never any doubt of the pecking order in our house. Miss Gitty was ALWAYS number one!
   Skipper and I got Madison not long after we were married. She was our first child and spoiled rotten. When she was a puppy, we’d leave her in the kitchen with a baby gate up while we went to work. One day Skipper got home, and Madison’s coat was glistening. He went to investigate, and she had gotten in my grease can under the sink! It was everywhere, and she was a tail-wagging mess. After that, she went to daycare at our vet’s office until we got Jake.
   Jake came to us after being a police K-9. He retired when the officer that he worked and lived with quit. It turned out that Jake was not a fan of her stud Bloodhound dog. We were friends, so she asked if we’d like to adopt him. YES!!  He was enormous and quite intimidating. Nobody could ever walk behind us and if he didn’t like someone, we took his word that they were “vermin.” He loved protecting his family and took the job very seriously. 
   The funniest thing I remember is when Jake walked up to the arm of our sofa where Miss Gitty was sleeping and stuck his nose into her side. Now, you have to realize that his head was bigger than Miss Gitty’s entire body but that did not matter. She sat up and started whacking him on the nose in rapid-fire succession. My heart stopped for a second, but he just shook his giant head and walked away. He didn’t have to be taught his lesson but once!  
* Madison and Miss Gitty were inseparable in their senior years.
   My kids always called Tucker the Golden Child. That’s because, in my eyes, he did no wrong. He was a Mother’s Day gift to me and I adored him. He was the sweetest and most loving dog ever. My son taught Tucker to pick up his dirty clothes and take them to the laundry room. We made such a big deal of it that he learned to open Skipper’s closet and get his clothes. He’d come prancing around the living room with a pair of shorts in his mouth waiting to be praised. Then you had to go to the laundry room because he wanted to put them in the basket. He was Bentley's first best friend. 
I love to look at pictures and talk about all of the animals that have impacted my life. They have given us such wonderful memories and not a single day goes by that I don’t think of them.
Who are you remembering today? 💖💖
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19 comments :

  1. I love your stories... I wasn't able to set up a post... but I hope so much that once the funny moments will rule over the tears...

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  2. Such sweet pics!

    Momma has had 5 speshul pups before me - Maybelline, Sam, Delilah, Hanky Panky, and Whitley. And Bevo, Elvira, Charlie, Jezebel, and Maurice da kitties.

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  3. What great stories and beautiful memories that will last forever!

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  4. What beautiful pups and awesome memories!

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  5. There are so many memories of pets from the past. We miss them all, and not just today.

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  6. What a beautiful post and pictures....Miss Gritty was full of gumption and spice like all kitties. You sure did and still do have very handsome K9's
    Hugs madi and mom

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  7. All such charming pets. I remember Miss Gitty from the Returns and wondered if she hadn't been some inspired by a real pet! Too adorable. You've had a whole bevy of special pets and they all have that look that proved they were very loved their whole life with you. 💖

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  8. what pawtastic memories!! Loved seeing your babies!!! We blogged about this last year, then this year we saw conflicting dates...I contacted the association in charge of this day and they said the Sunday date is actually the correct one, soooo...we blew it this year!

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  9. Great stories! It's things like these that keep our pets' memories alive.

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  10. I LOVE this post! I'm both laughing and crying at the same time. What a beautiful tribute to the animals you've been so blessed to have in your life. I didn't know that Tucker was still with you when you got Bentley! They must have had a great friendship. Thank you for sharing these delightful pets with us.
    Love & Biscuits,
    Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

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  11. Thank you for sharing these photos, they were all beautiful.XO

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  12. You have truly been blessed with so many wonderful animal companions! :)
    My list is long, since I've had cats since I was a teenager. But mostly right now I miss my girls, Sheba and Cricket. But I also never stop thinking about our boys, Kobi and Moses too, and the two dogs before them....my very first dogs, Maggie and Shelby, who both went to the Bridge way too young. ♥
    Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets

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  13. OMD, those are just wonderful stories! What amazin' furkids you have (had)!!! Gosh, I'm not sure if I would be able to find pics of our doggies from when we were kids, butts you never forget the funnies your pets bring! I can't imagine life without one!
    Kisses,
    Ruby ♥

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  14. That was a wonderful trip down memory lane. I loved and miss all or your animals. Jake was so darn handsome!!! Madison was wonderful as was Tucker and all the rest. Now Bentley and Pierre. I love all of your kids!! A

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  15. We never forget our angels. We think about Joey dog, Miss Ginger, and our patron saint, Old Charisma every day.

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  16. Sweet memories. Bless the ones that are gone.

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  17. Thank you for sharing your precious pawsome memories.

    Nose nudges,
    CEO Olivia

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