Recently, I lost my dog Mandy, and in the past few years, I have had to say goodbye to two others. Each loss took a piece of my heart with it.
Now Scrappy Doo is getting older. He is the last of my original six rescues, and he is much more than a dog—he is my buddy, my shadow, and one of the most loyal friends I have ever known.
Scrappy has gone everywhere with me—flying, boating, skydiving, and through countless adventures. Wherever life took me, he was ready to follow. He would follow me to the gates of hell and back without hesitation. Even now, he follows me from room to room and never wants to let me out of his sight.
There is a special kind of sadness in watching your best friend grow old. You try to stay grateful for every day, but in the back of your mind, you know that someday you will have to say goodbye. Sometimes, the fear of losing them begins long before they are gone.
Dogs teach us about unconditional love, loyalty, forgiveness, and living fully in the moment. Their lives may be much shorter than ours, but the love they give us lasts forever.
I believe Mandy and the others are waiting on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge—healthy, happy, and running free. Someday, when Scrappy’s journey here is complete, they will be there to welcome him. And when my own time comes, I believe all six of my rescues will be waiting for me together.
Until then, I will cherish every walk, every adventure, every look, and every moment with Scrappy Doo. He has followed me everywhere throughout his life—and a part of him will follow me forever.
Hold your dogs a little closer today. We may rescue them, but in so many ways, they rescue us.