3&1/2 Pounds, The Life of Bitsy Options

[Dusty Moonrise]

She only weighed 3 and 1/2 pounds at full growth!

I did not want another chihuahua, or more truthfully, my wife did not want another one. We already had a deer-head chihuahua named Renfield (a tale all by himself!). My brother, however, insisted that I come see his Little Bit's new litter.
Yep, there were three fat little four week old little pups crawling around in the box. Suddenly, out of the corner of the box, up stood this gawky, spindly, nearly hairless bug-eyed puppy! While the other three pups were still crawling around with their eyes just beginning to open, this pup was jumping at the side of the box wanting OUT! Take a golf ball. Add a snout smaller than the end of my thumb. Just above this little snout, add two huge brown eyes. Top the whole head off with two ears that would not have been out of place on a Corgi. Place this upon a scrawny little body supported by pipe-stem legs!
But, then, I looked her in the eyes. HOOKED!

I agonized over the fact that the pups would be up for sale within two weeks, and I did not have $125 to give my brother for the chihuahua. I had to promise to pay him with a hoped for Christmas bonus that I was supposed to receive later. Then, I had to face my wife when she came in the front door and said "What is THAT doing here!". This is Bitsy, I replied. "More like a Bitsy Bug!" Thus, the name stuck.


She was with me for very nearly 14 years. She protected me from cats, beagles, assorted nephews, you name it! She was extremely protective of her "Daddy"! My neighbors had a full grown Arctic Wolf which came up nearly to my hip. The wolf got loose and came into our yard. Before I could grab her, Bitsy ran out of the front door, and RAN THE WOLF ALL THE WAY HOME!!!! I couldn't scold her, because I was bent over double laughing at the chase, especially when Bitsy came stalking home in her "that's right, I'm BAD!" walk.

She followed my every step. This is what proved to be her downfall. Last February, I had to go to a storage building about fifty yards from my house in a near freezing rain. Little did I know that Bitsy, suffering from arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and a deep ear infection, was going to follow me! Even though I rushed her to the vet, and spent the next four months trying to nurse her back to health, she never recovered her ability to walk. She fought back so hard, and was just beginning to take a few stumbling steps. She wasn't in any pain after the first week of her recovery, until the last two days, when she relapsed drastically.

It was the hardest decision I have ever had to make having her put down last Monday,but I could not stand seeing her suffer, and the prognosis was not good for her to recover again. Anyone who is in this position needs to know that it is a painless procedure. I can only hope that as Bitsy looked at me with her ever so trusting eyes, that as she passed. she understood that Daddy was letting her go peacefully, and that she would not hurt any more. All I can say now is that there will forever be a 3 and 1/2 pound hole in my heart!

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[petmum]

Dusty Moonrise

I am so with you in having to make that tough decision for our beloved fur companions, we know it's right but the look of trust they give us as the breathe their last is a shocker, i'm not surprised u hve a 3.5 pound hole in your heart.
I loved the story of her chasing the Arctic Wolf, what a riot, these are the memories to make us smile, but @ the same time make us weep.
I feel your loss.
Please come back & share your journey here, it really does help.
elaine

[Sammie girl'...]

I am so sorry for your great loss. It sounds like the two of you shared a wonderful life together and that in itself is a great blessing. Picturing her chase that big dog just makes me laugh. I hope you can focus on all the funny things she did and that will help you through your grief.
Melanie

[petmum]

how r u travelling Dusty Moonrise?
elaine

[Dusty Moonrise]

how r u travelling Dusty Moonrise?
elaine

Doing better, even though it has only been three weeks. Went through all my photo albums and picked out pics of Bitsy. The immediate, hard hurting pain is fading, being replaced by a pain that I can deal with. I can laugh as well as cry now by remembering the funny things that Bitsy did, such as both squatting AND lifting her leg to pee! My wife and I always said that she was "gender conflicted" because we had her fixed at 6 months old. Bitsy would also follow behind the two male dogs I have, and pee every place they did!

I want to thank both you and Sammie Girl's Mom for your kind words. It helps to hear from others who can understand how much it hurts to lose "just a pet". Thanks also for taking the time to comfort me when you both have your own losses to work through!

[petmum]

I can just picture Bitsy being "gender conflicted", it made me chuckle.
I'm glad the pain is bearable, it's how it goes doesn't it.
It's nice to be able to look back with pics & not be in so much pain.
I'm getting there too.
It sure is wonderful to be amongst ppl who realise that these companions are so much more than "just pets".
Peace Be With You
elaine

[Dusty Moonrise]

Hard to believe it has been three years. I haven't gone a single day without thinking about you, girl. Yes, I have other babies which I love, but I don't think I will ever have another friend that will mean as much to me as you did, Bitsy! We went through some tough times together, and you were there for me the whole time. I have opened my heart to other dogs, have lost other dogs, but I will never again have another dog like you! Still miss you girl, and always will have this 3&1/2 pound hole in my heart!

[hesista]

Yes, it will be years, decades, until after we take out last breath . Our babies are with us forever