In this crazy year of 2020, I feel like the phrase “What else can go wrong?” has been a constant repeat for a lot of people. Many people have suffered losses of all different kinds throughout the year, but as for me and my family we’re suffering the loss of a beloved family member … our dog Neka.
Y’all, I don’t even know where to begin. I’m heartbroken and so unbelievably sad that she isn’t with us anymore. But she gave us the best six years, and for that I will forever be grateful.
We got Neka in June of 2014, shortly after the death of our first dog. She quickly weaved her way into our hearts with her fun and loving spirit, and throughout the years she became a fierce and loyal protector of our home. Not gonna lie, her over-the-top, loud barking drove me absolutely insane at times—especially when I was in the middle of doing something and she’d scare the bejesus out of me as she ran for the front door. But now the house is too quiet, and I’d give anything to have that loud bark echoing through the house again. And all the water on the floor by her water bowl because she was the sloppiest drinker. And her paws thudding across the hardwood floors, waking up the entire house with her excitement to start the day. And her following me around the house at precisely 8 p.m. because she knew that was time for her evening treat. And her following my husband upstairs to his office and just laying next to his desk while he worked. And her sneaking into bed with us in the middle of the night. And waking up to find her nestled up next to my husband, or against my back … pushing me right off the bed, lol.
Her death hit us hard, and while we somewhat knew it was coming, it was still very unexpected. A few months ago, we had to rush her to the vet because she was having a lot of trouble breathing. That whole week we were on vacation from our jobs and she’d started in with this horrible cough that just wouldn’t go away. I made an appointment with the vet, and they squeezed me in at the end of the week. At this point we’re thinking it was kennel cough, but confused how she would have contracted that since our dogs are never around other animals. The coughing got worse, and when she didn’t eat her breakfast one morning I knew something was really wrong because this dog lived for food. That afternoon is when we had to forgo our original appointment for the very next day and rush her to the vet, and (of course) with COVID we weren’t allowed in the building with her, so we waited outside in my SUV. The vet called us on my cellphone not long after and delivered us bad news that we definitely weren’t expecting … Neka had congenital heart failure. Of course, my husband and I quickly went into panic mode of what we did that caused this (the dog food? the treats?) and our angel of a vet quickly assured us that her condition was not our doing and that it was genetic. She assured us that it could be treated with medicine, but also advised us that her time left with us was an unknown (some dogs live for a few weeks, some months, and some years).
Neka gave us a few months.
Last Tuesday, November 17, my sweet girl slipped away from this world. I will never forget those last few moments we shared with her. Never forget those last few doggy kisses. Never forget how helpless I felt in those last few moments of her precious life. She was beyond loved, and though we miss her dearly, we are comforted knowing she is in God’s loving care now.
"God saw you getting tired, a cure was not to be. So he put His arms around you and whispered, 'Come with Me.'
With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you fade away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating, your tender paws at rest. God took you home to prove to us, He only takes the best."
--Author Unknown
Rest in peace, my sweet girl. I'll see you again someday.