Miss Mollie

by Laura
(Savannah)

My parents gave Mollie to me as a Christmas gift in 1993. Since that day she has been my best friend. Mollie was a better dog than I ever could have asked for. It is so hard to accept that I now have to live my life without her.

It was love at first sight the moment we met and we became inseparable. She would follow me everywhere I went around the house, sleep in my bed every night, and anxiously await my return whenever I left. Mollie was such a sweetheart as she loved and touched the lives of everyone who met her but she made it quite obvious that she loved me the best.

The first time Mollie and I were separated for any length of time was when I went away to college. When I was away I missed my family but who I missed most was Mollie. I came home a lot of weekends just to see her and I even took her back to school with me from time to time so we didn't have to be apart.

About a year ago I moved away from home in Pennsylvania to Savannah. The hardest thing about that decision was that I had to leave Mollie behind. Sure enough though every time I'd go home Mollie was there wagging her tail, excited as ever to see me. I never thought the last time I was home would be the last time I'd see her.

Mollie's decline was rapid...she was only sick for about a week. She had been on arthritis medication for the last couple months but was doing well until that medication was no longer helping very much. The vet decided to try a new medication for her but unfortunately the medication was too strong for such a small dog and it ruined her kidneys.

Mollie was a dog who LOVED to eat so it was very alarming when she stopped eating and drinking about a week ago. The vet took her off the meds, but it was too late. My parents took her to the vet daily to get hydration shots for her but they told my parents she was suffering and could not continue on like this. My parents had to make the hard decision to put her to sleep today.

It is hard for me because I never imagined that the last time I said goodbye to her that it was forever. It makes me question my decision to move so far away. The hardest thing about losing Mollie is that whenever I was sad or suffered a loss in the past Mollie was always there to comfort me. Now I have lost my comforter.