Grief Support≡
Memorials≡
Boutique≡
Miyah
by april conner
In January of 2004, for some reason I had just decided to take a trip up to the animal shelter. When I entered the kennel room, right away I noticed a little pup in a litter that was different from the rest. I asked to hold her and when the shelter attendent grabbed her she wept until she was in my arms. Immediatly she snuggled to my chest as if she was saying "thank you, thank you". There was no way I could leave her there. If I had it my way, I would rescue all the homeless animals, but she was the lucky one that day. She was a german shepard mix, just as cute and pretty as could be. I named her Miyah. Such a happy disposition, playful and loving. She slept at my bedside and was always with me. She started to get older and my fiance and I thought that maybe she would like a playmate while we were at work. Never in my dreams would I think of getting a bassett hound, but I did. Abbey,our brand new little baby, 5 weeks old. Still so little I had to feed her milk. I would have to hold her long floppy ears back while she drank and afterwards her belly would be so full. I would lay her on my lap and burp her. Abbey and Miyah got along so well. Miyah was never jealous, but more of a protector of her new little sis. You would never find them apart. One day I came home from work like a normal day. When I pulled into the drive, I would always have to stop and open the gate and put Miyah in the car until I could get inside and close the gate again. Well, on this particular day i noticed a group of kids walking down the road with a dog. Driving on by, not thinking a thing, I pulled up to the drive and Miyah greeted me with a big smile and her tail just wagging away. So I did what I normally would do and with her in the back seat I drove up to the house and left the gate open because I knew I would be leaving. I was going to take Miyah right into the house but my little sister was unaware that the gate was still open and let her out on the other side of the car. About that time, the kids with the dog walked by and Miyah went straight for them. I could see cars from one direction. Thankfully they had stopped. The kids had crossed the street and Miyah raced after them and then it happened. Right before my eyes, I saw my baby girl get run over by a big truck. She yelled and cried. I went right for her to help her. Still alive, she bit my hand. With blood all over, I reached for her again. I didn't care. I needed to save my baby. She bit it again. It felt like she ripped my finger off. I was too worried about her though. I had to get her into the car and to the vet. I pulled the car around and the driver who ran over her put her in my back seat and I sped off to the vet. On my way there, a police officer was following me because I was speeding through traffic with my flashers off. I didn't stop until I was there. When I got out of the car, I screamed "please help me !!!" And for some reason, that day, the vet was still there after hours. She took Miyah inside and soon after I learned my baby had died. She had died in my back seat. It hurts me so to know she was in so much pain, but I wouldn't have wanted her to pass anyother place. After I learned this, I went inside to say goodbye while my little sister was outside frantically trying to call my fiance. While the doctor and I were standing at Miyah's side, she offered me an opportunity to join her staff. You see, this is all I've wanted to do since I was little...to work with a veterinarian. In my heart, I believe Miyah sacrificed herself so that I could have this opportunity. We made arrangement to talk it over later. In the meantime, I got ahold of my fiance and we came back down to the clinic to view her body. We had been together for almost 8 years and not once had I seen a tear out of his eyes. Right then and there I saw a beautiful thing happen. He cried for her. As we all wept we said our final good-bye. This all happened in just a short amount of time but it seemed as if time had stopped. Like my heart had stopped. My heart had felt weak and sad. Angry and confused. Just a few days before my sister had taken a family picture of us and the dogs. It was meant for a reason. I never thought I would be able to love Abbey, Miyah's little sis, as I did as much as I did her. Now I know she was meant to be as well. Poor little Abbey became depressed and came down with parvo. She recoverd well and now is very independant. So loving and I can see in her eyes she is thankful to be here with us. Miyah is back home with us now. We have her ashes. When I recieved them I held them and just cried. I feel a sense of completion that she is back home with us. She was just 8 months old, but I believe lived a very happy life with us. She visits me in my dreams as if to let me know she is ok. That day that it all happened it was raining. It rained for 3 days after. When the sun came out, I said to myself that she did not want us to weep any longer but to be happy for the time that we had together. Now I am a vet tech and her memory keeps me motivated. Like she wanted me to do this. Just the other day, I witnessed a sick dog take her last breath right in front of me and only me. In a way I kind of feel that was meant for me to see...a message from Miyah since I didn't get to see her last breath. I still do not have feeling in my finger where she ripped it open, but I think of it as her little reminder to me that her soul is still with me. I do not understand why all the bad things happen to such good people and pets. My heart still aches and I cry for her often. Everyday I know she is with me when I hear the jingle of her rabies tag on her collar around my rearview mirror and I just thank God that he allowed such a precious thing into my life. I hope to have her as a rainbow resident soon, but I just felt I had to share my story. For all of you who read this, I know your pain, and want to thank you for enlighting your life with a little piece of mine.
Comments would be appreciated by the
author, april conne
321-784-1468 Tech Support
