Hi everyone –
This blog post is selfishly personal and but I suffered a loss last night that is acutely painful and I need to get this out for myself. If you’ve ever loved a dog like your own fur-kid, I’m sure you’ll understand. And if you haven’t, although it’s painful to let them go, it is SO worth it to have them in your life and your heart.
Yodette was born October 24th 2000. This was the day after she became a member of our family…
I’d always wanted a Boston Terrier and I named her Yodette, like Yoda, but she was a girl. At the time we had a kitten named, Seymour and they became fast friends!
Shortly after that picture was taken, Yodette was playing on the stairs with Seymour and let out a horrible yowl. She’d broken her front elbow joint. She wasn’t even old enough for her 10 week old vaccinations. Poor baby! But she was a trooper, got pins placed in the joint and came home in a cast. I was supposed to keep her immobile for 8 weeks. A puppy!
I bought a playpen and she stayed in it with her cone on her head and her cast on her leg. She looked like a peg-legged pirate. I’ll never forget the day I picked the kids up from school and we opened the front door to see Yodette and Seymour on the stairs!!! They looked at us with “uh-oh” looks on their faces, and my little puppy happily peg-legged down the stairs and ran to meet us…
To this day I still have NO idea how she climbed out of that playpen in a cone with a peg-leg!
I was sure she’d have an S-curved leg when the vet took that cast off, but she ended up with full mobility in her joint and was fine for over 14 years. Tough little cookie, my Yodette!
Then I started writing, and Yodette was my constant companion, snoring at my feet or even beside me, and occasionally jumping up to remind me she hadn’t had a treat in a few hours…
She was very proud of every book release and posed for a picture with every new book I had published.
She also loved holidays. She attended our local 4th of July parade every year… 
And she was a fan of Halloween too!
She had her own stocking at Christmas and Santa never forgot to fill it! J
And during New Year’s Eve Yodette could party with the best of them!
She also loved sitting in the passenger seat for car rides… She had the best smile in the world…
I miss you already Yodette, but I’m SO grateful you came into my life and that I got to love you for almost 15 years… You’re the best!
Writing books without you is going to feel so weird…
I love you!
Lisa
I am so sorry… 🙁 It is never easy to lose a fur baby. My thoughts are with you at this time as I am an animal lover to and I have a fur baby I love very, very much. She’ll be waiting for you over the Rainbow Bridge, she will never forget you. Much love, Donna
Awww thanks @donnalwaloclancy:disqus!!! She was such a wonderful little soul in my world… <3 Hug your fur-kid for me!
As Yodette’s Grandma, I will always have the memory of our one-and-only sleepover at my house. I aged 10 years when she escaped and was gone overnight. Frantic searching and calling all night to no avail. Next morning I went out to start all over again, and there she was! But no … apparently Grandma was scary when not in the house, because Yodette turned around and ran down the street, me in hot pursuit, leaving the front door open. After a sweaty half hour, I returned home, dejected, only to find Yodette gleefully greeting me from inside the house. Ah, the memories!
Ha! Yeah you must’ve been a very scary stranger outside… I’m so glad you made it back in your house so Yodette could tell you all about it… 🙂
Lisa, I’m so sorry to hear about Yodette. She seems like she was a very cool companion. I have to say, I really liked the picture of her with Seymour, and the story you shared about escaping her “healing” playpen. That was so cute!!
Sending you *hugs*. Let me know if I can do anything.
Awww thanks @denise_wyant:disqus… *HUGS* She was such a smart dog… She would move furniture to hunt down chocolate and figured out how to open the upstairs bathroom, by banging the door in just the right place… 🙂
It almost sounds like you had your hands full with her 🙂 I wish my cat was more like Seymour. I tried to introduce a dog, and it did not go well at all. Willow will be 14 this year. I dread the day anything happens to her.
Enjoy every second you get together… *HUGS*
I am so very sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you. What a beautiful tribute you wrote for Yodette.
Thanks so much… She was one in a million…. <3
She was such a trooper and so pretty. So sorry for your loss, Lisa. What a wonderful tribute to you FURBABY. (((((HUGS)))))
Thanks so much @wendylovetiggi:disqus! *HUGS* She was my constant companion…. The house is much too quiet now… But I’m so grateful for all the time we got to have together….
I’m so sorry for the loss of your precious furbaby. I lost my 16 year old cat last summer….. It’s hard and emotional and I still don’t sit in “our” spot on the couch. Hugs to you and your family as you transition your life around this life change.
*HUGS* to you @sapphyria:disqus! It’s so hard. Last night I put away her bed in my bedroom. Lots of tears, but seeing it empty was harder… Thanks for the love… <3
<3
Sorry for your loss, Lisa. It hurts so much to lose our fur-babies, especially for those of us who make them part of the family in every way. You made some wonderful memories. When you are ready for another pooch in your life, somewhere in doggy heaven your Yodette will no doubt be wagging her little tail, joyous that you are ready to open your heart again.
I’m not there yet, but I hope when I am, Yodette will help me find just the right one…. <3