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Thankful for the Two Brittanys in My Life

By
Home Stager

Thankful for the Two Brittanys in My Life

When Larry told me we were driving to Mexia, TX to buy a Brittany Spaniel, I had visions of the cute spaniel in Lady and the Tramp. Man, was I wrong! I had an image of a Cocker Spaniel in my head.

Instead, we got a partially trained, extremely hyperactive hunting dog. lady She loved to go bird hunting with Larry and was happy as a clam to come home all wet and covered in burrs.

 

Lady Marie managed to chew up 2 antique pistol grips, a hot tub cover, and bring a dead armadillo into our home one afternoon but we loved her with all our hearts.

 

Lady played water volleyball with us ( we had no choice) and loved being on the boat.

 

Many years later, and after we lost Lady, I surprised Larry with a hunting trip for his birthday. When he returned home, sitting in the car was a Brittany. I had to do a double take because she looked so much like Lady.

 

He “saved the hunting lease owner the cost of a bullet” by offering to take this very gun-shy hunting dog off his hands.

 

Lucky Marie had never climbed stairs when we got her but adapted quickly. She did not like to go in the pool and would go into hiding when she heard fireworks or thunder.

 

lucky

 

Sadly both of these beautiful dogs went blind suddenly and without warning. We went to doggie ophthalmologists and neurologists but the disease acts so quickly, it has been hard to study. They had SARDS ( Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration).

 

Lady went blind and was diabetic. I gave her insulin shots every morning.

Lucky went blind and like Lady had an autoimmune disease that eventually took her from us.

 

However, I am so thankful for all of the joy and unconditional love that they gave both of us.

And to this day, I get a pinch in my heart when I think of the fun and funny times we had.

 

This is an entry in Debbie Reynolds ’s 12 Days of Thanksgiving 2017-ActiveRain Challenge.




Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

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Comments (24)

Nathan Gesner
American West Realty and Management - Cody, WY
Broker / Property Manager

Kathy, I liked your story and love the Gecko photo! Have a great weekend!

Nov 17, 2017 04:59 AM
Donald Urschalitz
Lubeck Realty Group - Jupiter, FL
P.A. Realtor ABR RSPS North Palm Beach County

Our dogs are just like children they bring us so much joy, The greatest joy in our Roxie is to chase those lizzards. The good news is that they are faster than she is.

Nov 17, 2017 05:23 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Aww, the love that you have for them is really apparent, I am sure they loved you dearly as well.

Nov 17, 2017 05:53 AM
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

A common thread on the thankfulness challenge is the importance of unconditional love we receive from our pets.

Nov 17, 2017 05:59 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Kathy. Dogs touch us in a way that few can understand. There are so many wonderful dogs thrown away in shelters.....you know what I am saying.

Nov 17, 2017 06:41 AM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

It is sad when a pet gets ill  Kathy Streib, and i learned about a new breed of dog i had not known. Wishing you a good Friday 

Nov 17, 2017 06:42 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Hi Kathy... nothing like the unconditional love of a beloved pet. I still miss my Max and Gracie. But I've always been thankful for whatever time I could spend with my dogs and cats, short or long.

Nov 17, 2017 06:44 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Kathy,

What a lovely story about the two Brittanys you had.  I still have all my pets in my heart, my dogs, and my cats...I would love to get a dog (Quincy likes dogs), but the timing is not right..A

Nov 17, 2017 07:29 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Loved this post, Kathy. I've never been a dog person, or any pets for that matter. However I do understand the love of animals and the pain of losing them. Lady and Lucky were so beautiful!

Nov 17, 2017 08:57 AM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Kathy - They both look like sweet dogs and I'm sure you guys miss them terribly. I don't think that a day goes by that I don't give thanks for all the love and fun our departed friends gave us.

Nov 17, 2017 01:37 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

James Dray you are so right, it never quite goes away.

Barbara Todaro We were to the point of making homemade dog treats out of Spelt.

Dorie Dillard You're right. I am so thankful for the time I had with them. 

 

 

Nov 17, 2017 04:51 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Wayne Martin these furry guys get into our hearts.

Glad you noticed Nathan Gesner They loved to chase and catch them! 

Donald Urschalitz I absolutely love that picture!!!  Lady managed to get a frog once and I had to wash her mouth out. I was afraid it was one of those poisonous frogs. 

 

Nov 17, 2017 04:56 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Brian England  At one time we had 2 dogs, 1 cat, and fish.

Joe Pryor you have that right.  When we're sad, they are right there for us. 

Sheila Anderson  it pains me when I see cats and dogs left to wander. I made a pain of myself when our former neighbor refused to have his dog fixed but he was always getting out and running around the neighborhood. 

Nov 17, 2017 05:02 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Scott Godzyk They've since dropped the Spaniel part of the name and are now Brittanys. They are so sweet.

Nina Hollander Pets have a way of making you forget about what's going on and adding some warmth to your heart.

 

Nov 17, 2017 05:09 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Ron and Alexandra Seigel Our two dogs got along fairly well with Baby Grey. Once in a while I would see the cat streaking across the room, followed by Schnooper, our Schnauzer, then Lady. 

Sharon Tara I've had dogs all of my life until recently. Years ago I also had a hamster, bird, and ant farm. LOL

Nov 17, 2017 05:13 PM
Sharon Tara

I had a cat and then a dog when I was a kid.


When Rick and I got married we had two parakeets for a short time. We got a guinea pig for the kids and they hardly ever played with it. We only ever had one dog. Longest 9 months of my life. LOL


I don't do pets.

Nov 18, 2017 12:18 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Dick Greenberg we came really close to adopting another Brittany but passed. I've learned that he, too, has some kind of autoimmune issues. Very sad. 

Nov 17, 2017 05:14 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

That picture with your pooch looking at that little lizard is priceless, Kathy!  I have two Brittanys in my life too.

Nov 17, 2017 05:19 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Kathy -- your post is one of the reasons why I love ActiveRain -- yes I admit it...I love this forum.  The people.  The stories.  The memories.   

The things that make me think.  And feel.   Thank you for this very thoughtful post.   

Nov 18, 2017 11:19 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Kathy

What joy, and happy memories Lucky Marie and Lady Marie brought you. It's so hard to lose our pets but what a pleasure to are to have around!

Jeff

Nov 19, 2017 04:41 PM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Pets become as much a part of the family as some family members and I laugh with my husband that we like some of them more than family members.

Nov 26, 2017 06:11 PM