Love at first sight

by Megan
(Stella, NC)

this was the picture that I fell in love with

I have never been a believer in love at first site, in regards to people or animals. My whole philosophy changed over a simple picture.

I had been looking to get a puppy to keep me company while my husband was at work. One that would play and be a puppy, and still sit and cuddle with me while I watched tv.

I was looking at local adds online, and saw the cutest puppy I had ever seen. She was part chihuahua and part rat terrier, and I fell in love right there. I was so excited about her, I didn't even talk to my husband before going to pick her up. The lady I got her from was so nice, and once she told me how they had acquired this little cutie, my heart broke.

Her sister knew this guy who had some dogs outside, and was doing some "back yard breeding." They lived in metal cages outside, never getting out. Their food was just thrown in there, and most of the time just fell through the wire, and they wouldn't get to eat. Well, this lady went to try to get as many of these dogs as she could to give them a second chance. By the time she got there the guy had already shot 3 of the dogs so she couldn't take them. She managed to get this little 12 week puppy, that would soon turn into my little puppy.

She was 12 weeks old, and so calm I couldn't believe it. I named her Cali and it seemed to fit perfectly. I was so excited I was going to get to love her and show her affection that she had never received. I took her home, and she seemed really shy and anxious, but I just figured it was from nerves. Even though she was a puppy, I let her sleep in the bed, because she had been alone for so long. She threw up that night, but again I just thought it was nerves. The next day, it got worse, she was throwing up about every 2 hours, so I gave her some anxiety medicine, that seemed to work for the short-term.

The third day was the day everything went wrong. Now along with the throwing up, she had diarrhea, and it started to turn bloody. I was really worried, so I called the emergency vet who said I needed to bring her in right away. I was worried about her, but I hoped that it was just be a little virus and they would give her some medicine to clear it up. I was way wrong. We took her and they did a parvo test, and it was positive. The treatment was going to be at least $500, probably a lot more, and there was a 40% chance she would make it. I just didn't have the money, and the vet said that as little as she was and the severity of her case, she probably wouldn't had made it. It was then that I faced to hardest decision in my life..I didn't want to, but she was in so much pain, and I knew euthanizing her would be best for her.

I didn't have Cali for years like most dog owners do. I didn't even have her for 2 full days. But in such a short amount of time, I got more attached to her than I ever have with any dog. I was determined to give her the best life a dog could have after what she had gone through. I may not have given her years of love, but in 2 days I gave her as much love as I could. Something she would have never known if I hadn't taken her in to my home and heart.