My name is Chloe, and this is the story of my life…
Nearly 10 and a half years ago, I was left abandoned fending for my life. I was malnourished and in rough shape. No one really knows my true age, or for how long I was on the run… However, I do remember stumbling out onto a very busy 4-lane highway and nearly getting hit by a stranger in a pickup. I was so exhausted (I froze in place). Thankfully, that stranger slammed on his brakes (just in time), then risked his life by rushing out onto the road (in traffic) to rescue me. So… I ran up to him and jumped into his arms. “I mean, what could go wrong?”
Well, I initially regretted the decision of running up to that stranger because he (immediately) took me to a Vet (“what a sell-out”). There, they gave me a couple of bags of IV fluids, food and vitamins, scanned me for a micro-chip (which turned up negative). AND of course… shots (“again, why did I jump into this stranger’s arms?”). Then, this stranger took me to his house and gave me a bath…. I got to meet his family, but two of his older kids (Tyler and Brandon) were at school and the others (twins) were so difficult to tell apart. They were very “grabby” and scared me (at first).
I really liked the Lady of the house, so much so that I decided to poop on her purple yoga mat. Then, I chewed up the stranger’s laptop charging cable; my first impression wasn’t going so well… Later that night, the strange man tried to stuff me into a crate that smelled of his two previous dogs (Shiner and Dakota). The dog bed was comfy, better than the ground that I had slept on (for who knows how long). So, I scratched and barked for nearly half an hour DEMANDING better hospitality! The strange man had no choice but to let me out after placing the dog bed onto the floor, (next to his bed).
I laid there quiet and calm for a minute, then found the courage to jump up onto the bed. I crawled up slowly next to him, placed my head onto his shoulder, and fell sound asleep…. “I found my new Dad…” (and I have slept like that every single night since).
After our move from Oklahoma to Texas, I decided to greet the neighbors by running into their (open) doorway and peeing on their wood floor… (again, I gotta work on those first impressions). Life was awesome
thereafter, up until about two months ago…
It all started a couple of years ago, I noticed that I was having trouble with my vision. I found myself running into objects all throughout the house. Earlier in the year, I accidentally found myself falling into the backyard pool (where the water temps were hovering around 20-30°f); thankfully Mommy saved me (otherwise I would have drowned). She rushed me inside, gave me a warm bath, and dried my hair. Thanks Mommy!
Things were fine after my cataract lens replacement surgery, I could finally see again! I was able to run throughout the house without fear of crashing into things! I could watch the kids walk by the house and bark at
them…. AND, I could supervise my Dad’s swimming from the living room window again. A week or so after my surgery, my vision started declining. Mommy drove me back and forth to have more procedures done but none of it helped. Then last weekend I began throwing up my food and water…. I couldn’t hold anything down. When Dad tried to pick me up, I felt a LOT of pain (and yelped). Mommy took me to the Emergency Vet Hospital on Sunday, where they admitted me for 24 hours (and took GREAT care of me). From there, I learned that my liver and kidneys were failing…. Things weren’t looking so good for me. BUT, I had Mom and Dad there to keep me company.
Sadly, just after 5pm today… My Dad and Mom held me for one last time as I crossed the bridge (thus relieving me of all of my pain and sorrow). I know it was a very difficult decision, but “It’s ok…”
I will be waiting for you… Thank you for taking such great care of me over the years. To all of those that I have met in my life, know that I am truly sorry if I ever made a bad first impression. I only knew how to love and cuddle.
All of my love,
Chloe
We love you forever Chloe! Love Mom, Dad, Tyler, Brandon, Austin, Blake, and Piper.
Happy running and God bless!
"Fight the good fight, finish the race, and always keep faith"
2 Timothy 4:7
