This blog post is going to be different from my previous blog post because I want to talk about an individual who has had a significant impact on my life. On September 5th, 2023, my dog, Chloe, passed away. Adjusting to this loss has been challenging, as she was part of my life and my family for 14 years.
I don't want to bring sadness to this post, as Chloe deserves better, and I don't want to evoke tears from anyone (including myself) while writing this. Instead, I want to take this opportunity to talk about how my dog truly saved my life and influenced my personal growth.
I received my sweet Chloe when she was merely two months old in December of 2008. Among the litter, she was the youngest and the tiniest. Little did we know, she would also be the WILDEST! When I say she would involve herself in every possible situation, I truly mean it. She consistently kept my family and me on our toes. Getting my dog for Christmas was the greatest gift I could have ever received. Honestly, I don't think there will ever be a gift that surpasses my sweet girl.
One of my favorite memories of Chloe (at the time it wasn’t funny) was when I went for a walk with my dog. I attached the leash to the handle of my wheelchair and made sure to control my speed to avoid dragging her by the collar. One day I realized that the dog collar was too loose for her neck, which I wasn't aware of, and it slipped off easily. I heard the sound of the collar falling to the ground and assumed that since my dog was well-trained, all I needed to do was pick up the collar attached to the leash, put it back on her neck, and continue the walk. However, my dog had different plans. Chloe noticed that the collar was off and gave me a mischievous smile before running away! As I watched her, she raced through the neighborhood which resulted in me chasing her in my wheelchair. Any dog owner understands that no matter how fast you may be, the dog always proves swifter and cleverer. Occasionally, when I was able to get near her, she would dart away once more. Eventually, I reached a point where I had no choice but to call my mom for assistance, and she arrived at the location where I was attempting to capture Chloe. With a mere gesture of her hand on her hip and a stern look, my mom was able to get Chloe to come to her. Then they both strolled home casually, as if I hadn't just spent the past half hour trying to catch this dog!