Annie's Story - Part 1

Annie's Story - Part 1

Annie came into my life when I met my youngest brother, Andy, in a reunion of 8 siblings who were torn apart as young children and reunited after about 45 years. That's a story for another time - this is Annie's Story.

Annie was a tiny Toy Poodle/Terrier cross and weighed 5 pounds at the most. As someone who grew up with German Shepherds, she was the tiniest dog I had ever seen; I've had cats bigger than she was! I think she was already about 14 years old or so when I first met her. I remember when I first saw Annie and said to my brother, "What is that? It looks like a rat on a stick!" I think that was the one and only time I said that ... it did not go over well, lol.

My brother Andy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed away December 19, 2007. Annie was Andy's dog and lifelong companion - the two were inseparable. During the last few months of Andy's life, he was in the Family Room of the hospital, where those of us who could visited him daily; and the ones who lived far away, as much as was possible. Many of my health issues had not even been diagnosed at that point, and I was still able to drive, so I spent a lot of time going back and forth.

Since Annie and I got along so well and I spent a lot of time with her, I used to take her to the hospital in the mornings - the hospital allowed the patients to have their pets come to visit, and Annie was clearly a favourite with the nurses. I used to put her in a cloth shopping bag, well wrapped up in her blanket, and carry her into the hospital that way - and I had to say that she was pretty adorable!

Annie and Andy had their time together while I ran errands, and then I would bundle her back up and off we would go until the next morning's visit.

Several months after Andy passed away, I got a job and moved into a town about an hour away ... and was asked by my oldest brother and sister-in-law, who I had been staying with, if I would like to take Annie with me. I was delighted! We had really bonded, and I was heartbroken at the thought of not being able to spend time with her every day.

And so, Annie and I moved together into an apartment in town and began our life together. Unfortunately, my health continued to decline, and it was affecting my ability to work. A couple of years later, I was forced to stop working for medical reasons and began the long, slow process of applying and qualifying for Disability.

Annie was starting to show her age as well, and had her own health issues. Right after I qualified for Disability and received my first cheque, I took Annie to the Vet. It was obvious she had cataracts in both eyes, and apparently her teeth were in poor shape as well. The Vet told me that Annie had massive infection behind one of her eyes, and it would have to be removed or it would burst the eye. All of her teeth had to be removed as well. Poor Annie!

I visited Annie each day of her stay at the Vets; they needed to keep her a few days because of her age and the level of care that was necessary in the beginning healing stages. The day I was finally able to bring her home, I was thrilled! It didn't matter if Annie only had one eye, which she was almost blind in, and no teeth - she was coming home!

We both went through some huge adjustments that year - me without a job and going through the Disability application process; doctors and specialists and back surgeons' appointments, and so much red tape! And poor Annie, learning to eat only soft food, how to navigate around the apartment and outside with very little sight - recovering from her own major surgery and getting over the stress of being away from me for so many days afterwards. It wasn't an easy time for either of us, but we were together and, I think, did a great job of it!

... to be continued.

Top photo taken by Todd Greening, Photographer; all other photos are my own.