I only met her a few times. And even then, it was over a meal or a birthday cake with a shared family member. Her name was Jan. She was my great-nephew’s mother-in-law. A nice woman, probably 10 years my junior. She loved her grandchildren, and she loved small animals such as sugar-gliders, lizards, and even snakes. She had lived a hard life, had no husband remaining, and just had one daughter.
She sadly and suddenly died in March of this year. It was a massive stroke, and nothing could be done. The family sat in her hospital room hoping for a recovery that was never to come. Just days later she was gone. The family was thrown into shock and grieving her loss. I expressed my shock, my sadness, and my prayers for their family. I knew she was a strategic member of my great-nephew’s family and home life.
Just a few weeks later I got the call. Jan had left behind a 2-year-old dog. My great-nephew and his family could not absorb the extra expense, already having several dogs and other pets, and did I mention four young children? “Would I, could I, consider giving Stella a home?” And so, it began.
She visited the next day, and we “eyed” each other. She resembled a mop. In desperate need of a groom, I did a speed dial to Sierra, my faithful groomer at Doggone Dapper hitting her with a 911 need to tackle this overgrown furball. She said to bring her in the next morning. As she performed her magic, my eyes began to tear up at the beautiful pup she was revealing.
The following day, Dr. Allie in Punta Gorda brought her in for a “get acquainted visit” and to update her shots. She was declared to be healthy. So, we celebrated by stopping in at Bealls Outlet for all the essentials. Our cart was filled with our sweet new dog and bowls, doggie beds, blankets, and treats. Her cuteness had shopper’s stopping to meet her. And we were suddenly the proud new parents of the sweetest, best trained, most devoted little Shih Tzu ever born.
She kept her first name, but we added more to the moniker and christened her Stella Louise Shih Tzu. We call out “Stella Lou,” and she runs like the wind jumping onto the sofa, the king size bed, or into our arms. We are heart full because there is a new dog in town.
You can find us lounging together here on my lanai.
