Will B.
With October being breast cancer awareness month it has me remembering when breast cancer took my dachshund of 12 years Punky Brewster. That little dachshund stole a part of my heart.
I know many don’t agree with the notion that “my dogs are like my children,” but being that I have never had children my dogs are the closest I will get to having kids. I know having a dog is not actually not even close to having a child, but they are endearing.
Punky, as I called my little dachshund, was not even meant to be my dog so many years ago. At the time I was going through a particularly rough flare up with my AS, so rough that I couldn’t work for about five years. My ex-wife’s mother bred dachshunds at the time and during one visit she placed the tiniest little fur ball in the palm of my hand. That was all it took. We took her home and after a bit of watching her being so spunky and full of character we decided to name her after the TV character Punky Brewster.
I didn’t know it at the time but this little fur ball saved me mentally and emotionally during those years stuck at home, unable to work. She got me out to do short walks when I didn’t think I could and curled up on my neck for naps when my fatigue from AS was overwhelming. She was full of attitude but also one of the sweetest dogs ever.
I took her to the vet to have a baseball size tumor removed that turned out to be breast cancer. I had her spayed as well because I was advised it will prolong her life a bit longer by slowing the growth of the tumor. There was a more aggressive option but at 12 years old I just wanted her to be as comfortable as possible with the time she had left.
I don’t know for certain if my ex-wife knew I needed this little fur ball 12 years ago to help me get through that particular rough spot or not, but I do know that Punky did help me tremendously. I had 12 wonderful years of memories with that sweet little furball and she will always have a special place in my heart.
This is Will B. saying, dogs really are man’s best friend.