Hey, Sweetie

       So I'm sitting here tonight, after playing tug with Chloe and working on drive, realizing that we've been together for almost 3 years now. It's quite hard to believe actually. I never seem to realize that time truly does fly, and we take life for granted, no matter how much we like to think that we don't, we do. I guess that's one of those things that makes us human, huh? We all have a best friend, some more than one. My boyfriend who ships out on the 15th will be gone for 3 months, I've talked to him almost every day of my life for the past 11 years, and I'm going to be completely and utterly lost without him. After sitting down at work today after being sent home because I "wasn't myself" it really hit me, I felt like I was going to be alone, and I cried, sitting in the lobby of my work, I cried, it was almost pathetic actually. I'm hard on myself a lot, because I just don't feel I deserve the things that life grants me most the time, so I feel I should have to work so much harder to make myself worthy of it all. I know its ridiculous but it's just how I feel.
        A few weeks ago Rockit swallowed a (what I believe to be) lead curtain weight, causing him to become extremely ill. Before I got him to a vet I hoped it was simply and upset stomach as he had a raw meal for the first time in quite a while, or maybe there was something wrong with my bag of kibble, or something that I did wrong, I felt it was my fault. From the time I got Rockit he has always caused trouble, eating and chewing anything and everything he can fit into his mouth, it's absolutely horrid. The day I brought him home I had plugged my phone in when I got home, not thinking anything of it because that's where I had always plugged it in and my dogs knew better than to mess with wires, guess who didn't have a phone charger within five minutes? This girl. Thanks Rockit. Seems I haven't learned my lesson though, or maybe Rockit is just accident prone? Now that he's home from his surgery and "on the road to recovery" he's injured himself again, somehow managing to slice open his leg, does it never end with this dog? Guess not.
       As for Pearl and Vixy, they both got new collars (Rush to Tug of course, because Reesa is the absolute best!) and they're doing simply wonderful. With the new dog food and the added salmon oil and ACV they all look amazing. Vixy has lost some weight but is still working on shedding those few extra pounds that she really doesn't need to have hanging around. Pearl seems to be not aging well at all sadly, but we continue to hope and pray for the best and ask the Gods and Goddesses that she stay with us for many years to come.
        Now, back to the point of this post. What is a best friend? Well, I see a best friend as the one who will never leave your side, the one that's going to go through everything with you, just to stay with you, not because they have to, but because they want to. That's what I define as a best friend. That's what I define as Chloe. I've never had a dog before that has changed me like she has, yes, each of my dogs has changed me in one way or another and they have all taught me something, but Chloe? Chloe has showed me a whole new world. She's sparked a flame that will never be extinguished. Before Chloe I thought often of suicide and was a cutter, she saved me, she showed me that it's ok to hurt, that even though it hurts it'll be alright. She stood by me through everything. My senior year was rough, after losing quite a few classmates (mostly to car accidents) I started to shut down, I simply don't handle loss well anymore after experiencing it so much. I started to give up on everything, including myself and my dogs, but Chloe was just so eager to help me. She is the one that got me back on my feet, the one that made me realize I can't let anything slow me down, even when it hurts I have to push on. I have dreams, and because of Chloe I know it's ok to chase them. So Chloe, through all the mistakes, screw ups, disasters, tragedy, and anything else that is thrown our way, I'm going to be your best friend, and you'll always be mine <3 I love you baby girl.

The Dreamers

For those of you whom don't know me my name is Meaghan. I own 4 miniature dachshund, 3 females and 1 male. Their names (from oldest to youngest) are Pearl, Vixy, Chloe, and Rockit. These dogs are my entire life, my heart and soul. I couldn't live without them all. It's sometimes hard for me to get my priorities straight, but I eventually get things back in line. So let's start from the beginning shall we? I've always loved animals, horses, cows, cats, birds, dogs, you name it, even snakes. I got my first dogs when I was 10, their names are Tango and Chance, they're brothers, they will be turning eight this August. Then came Percy, a purebred Siberian Husky, my dream dog, he was absolutely beautiful. We got him from a rescue in New Hampshire, and after many complications returned him to the same rescue. After that came Hunter, a purebred wirehaired Podengo, such a beautiful intelligent boy. But, due to his high prey drive he couldn't handle it when my mother started breeding dachshunds. Now, technically, Pearl came first, but she wasn't my dog when we got her, it was my mother's dog, so we'll start with the dog that ignited my true passion for dogs, the dog that taught me more than words could ever come close to expressing, Chip. Chip was a miniature dachshund from a puppy mill in Louisiana. I got him when he was just two years young, he came to me with a terrible case of heartworms. Weeks before Chip's first heartworm treatment he developed a neurological disorder, whether it was from genetic issues or the heartworms we will never know. Things went downhill quickly from that point on, one thing seemed to come after another, heartbreak after heartbreak. Chip lost 8lbs within a month, he wouldn't eat anything, was dehydrated, and would drag his back legs. He would be fine in the mornings most days, being his usual chipper self, dancing around my legs while I got ready for school, but by the evening he would be dragging himself once again. Have you ever looked into your dog's eyes and been able to tell that they are suffering? I knew there was only a single thing I could do more for my sweet boy, and that was to say goodbye and let him go. August 2009 I made the decision one morning to take him into the vet's office, I stayed by his side, and the only thing I could say to him was how much I loved him and how sorry I was that there was absolutely nothing I could possibly do for him, that this was the best choice I could make for him. Seeing him close his eyes, holding him as he took his last breath I knew  he forgave me, that he didn't hold anything against me. I shut down for quite a while after that, but slowly Pearl wiggled her way into my heart, she is what kept me strong through one of the hardest times in my life. She's the dog that was always there to welcome me with a wiggling butt no matter how bad a day I had. Then came Vixy, the dog who absolutely captured me. I was looking for my first show puppy when I came across her litter, I had originally been looking at her sister but the moment I saw her eyes I knew she was meant for me, a few weeks later Vixy was home. She is my shadow, always by my side. After her came Chloe, my little stinker, given to me as a gift Chloe was a bit of a surprise. But, she quickly grew on me, always causing trouble, she's the girl that keeps me constantly on my toes, never knowing what to expect from that day. She's my adventurer, my sidekick, my partner in crime.Lastly came Rockit, the new kid, always able to make me laugh, he's such a big goof and always smiling, always ready for something. This is my story, and a bit of their's as well, I know each and every one of these dogs, and many others have molded me to become who I am today, and I couldn't ever possibly thank them for it.