It was 6 1/2 years ago and Jeff had been going through a fairly tough time. He wasn't happy at his current place of employment as there was somewhat shady stuff going on there and we had only been married a little over 9 months. Depression had started to set in a bit when a prime opportunity came up for us to "dog sit" a dog that only a month or so before my uncle was trying to find a home for. When first approached, Jeff was adamant that he didn't want a dog at this time. But then his "unexplained" depression had started to set in. In his time of despair and depression, I was able to convince him we should dog sit this dog for my uncle's girlfriend so that they could go on a trip. Once Jeff had agreed to it, with the understanding that the dog would likely go back after the week was over, I contacted my uncle to find out more about this dog that no one had wanted to adopt. Her name was Faith.
Faith had been left in the Elkhart County Humane Society's drop box. She had been malnourished and basically left for dead. She was a bit timid and was very, very skinny. When she walked in the door that February evening, she b-lined it towards Jeff, laid her head on his lap and it was all over. The deal was sealed 2 hours later when Jeff stated, "She's not going to be leaving here at the end of the week..." in an almost question like manner. " Well, it's up to you," I said. "No..it wasn't a question..it was a statement...she's not leaving at the end of two weeks," Jeff replied. She had him at "ruff."
Whenever Jeff's depression or anxiety would hit Faith would saddle up to him, forcing him to pet her head and she would jump on the bed and lay right next to him. I remember telling Jeff that day before she came to us that he just needed a little Faith to get through his depression. And here she was...our little Faith. On March 18th, 2004 we adopted her. She became ours.
She'd nip at our backside every time we'd swat a bug off the wall or at a fly in the air. She could catch a fly with her mouth and spit it out at the door so that we could open the door and let the fly go free. She barked at the mail lady and knew right away when it was supposed to be mail time as she'd lay on the carpet by the door. She had a ferocious bark but the wettest lick and more excitement than a diabetic on Red Bull. She'd don a sweatshirt in the winter to stay warm when it was cold out.
Over the last 6 years, Faith has been more than just our family pet. She is totally our little girl. As we've tried to have children and in failed attempt after failed attempt to conceive, she knew what was going on and was the hug we needed, the unconditional love...she was our little girl.
We once had someone say to us that an animal is not the same as a human; they can't communicate their needs in words, make a conscience decision, or even be able to rational anything. They may have been right about those things. But to us, those don't make a human being human. Faith loved us no matter what....even when we were having a bad day and may have yelled a little at her. Or when we had to leave her for a few days with someone else caring for her in order to go out of town. And even more so she loved us when we were hurting inside and needed her unconditional love.
Yesterday she wasn't herself. She couldn't stay on her feet and kept falling. She couldn't keep anything down in her stomach, even water. She was lethargic. It wasn't our little Faith anymore. After an emergency visit to the Vet, we have learned that we may have very little time with her left. So now we try to keep her comfortable. As we try to just live day to day with her, the memories of our past come rushing in and fill our every being. We can't help but cry about the memories of the past knowing that the memories of the present and future are limited. When its time and she has to cross over to dog heaven, the rainbow bridge, or wherever all good dogs go when they pass away, it will be one of the most difficult things we ever experience. Because she is our little girl.
Today we try to have a little Faith. For she will not pass this way again.
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