Will B. Thinking of My Furry Friend

With a recent diagnosis of breast cancer for my Punky Brewster, it took me down a road of the many memories over the past 12 years from when I first took home this little Dachshund that stole a part of my heart.

I know many don’t agree with the term of endearment, “My dog is like my child,” but being that I never had children, my dogs are the closest I will get to having kids. I know having a dog is not actually even close to having a child, it’s a term of endearment - like I have said previously.

Punky, as we call our little dachshund (short for Punky Brewster from the TV show) was not even meant to be my dog some 12 years ago. At the time, I was going through a particularly rough flare up with my AS and could not work - in fact that flare was so bad I could not work for about five years. My 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 on her name, Punky Brewster.

I didn’t know it at the time, but this little fur ball saved me mentally, and emotionally, during those five years of being stuck at home and not being able 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 is full of attitude but is one of the sweetest dogs I have ever had.

Writing this going through my mind is her vet appointment for Friday, when she will have a baseball size tumor removed caused from breast cancer. We will have her spade as well because I was advised it will prolong her life a bit longer and help with tumors growing more slowly. 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 has left.

I don’t know for certain if my 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, and that is a fact. I am not sure how many more years or months I have left with Punky, but I know I have 12 wonderful years of memories that I will take with me long after she is gone.

This is Will B. saying, dogs really are man’s best friend.