Dear Dolly and Spot,
I love you. Not a day goes by without me saying so, usually during a flurry of kisses, but I have never told you the reasons why. Here goes.
Your strength and courage amaze me, Dolly girl.
After three surgeries to remove cancerous masses and 19 radiation treatments to keep them from coming back, you live on as if none of it ever happened. Sure, you shake a bit when we go to the vet or oncologist’s office for checkups, but you did that long before the first diagnosis.
A caring hand always puts you at ease, and every doctor praises your stoicism. If I ever get sick, you and mom—your cancer buddy with her own victories over the disease—will be my role models.
Spot, I admire your passion for life.
You approach every activity with gusto, from enjoying a treat to barking at the neighbor cat to chasing a ball. The happiness that fetch, in particular, brings you encourages me to find equally fulfilling activities. It’s so easy to let work take over my life, and I thank you for reminding me to stop and play every single day.
You both also set the best example for making new friends.
Every person you meet has the potential to be a pal in your eyes—they must prove otherwise. As humans, we tend to take the opposite approach. I keep this in mind when out and about, but please do understand if I continue to shake hands instead of lick faces.
These are just a few of the many reasons why I adore you, Dolly and Spot. You also make me laugh on a regular basis.
Thank you for the many years of emotional support and unconditional love. For the morning snuggles and goodnight kisses. For the wildly enthusiastic greetings, no matter how long I’ve been away. For just being you.
Happy Valentine’s Day, my sweet pups.
Love,
Me
Let’s hear from you, readers! Tell us why you love your pets in the comments and share photos of your four-legged (or three-legged — we love those tripawds!) Valentines.
About Pamela Mitchell: Human companion of Dolly and Spot. Geeky for all things sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. Writer living and working in Houston, Texas.
Read more by Pamela Mitchell:
- 5 Ways I Accidentally Exercise with My Dogs
- I Love My Friends — But Their Dogs Are So Annoying!
- 10 Spring Cleaning Tips for Dog People
- 5 Nice Things I Can’t Have Because I Have Dogs
- 5 Stupid Questions I Ask My Dogs on a Daily Basis
- I Avoid Stories About Cruelty to Dogs. Does That Make Me a Bad Person?
- 5 Things I Demand from Any Vet’s Office
