I never thought losing a pet would hurt almost like losing a relative. Now I understand why shows like Rescue 911 fussed so much about pets that were in trouble.
Last Friday at 2am my puppy Piper passed away due to a corona virus infection. For nights I cried because I was so worried about her. I couldn’t help but think about the worst, knowing she was still too young and her immune system is still immature. I didn’t want to lose her. Just the thought of not seeing her again was enough to drive me to tears.
I watched that Monday afternoon as my father drove away from the house I was staying at, with Piper looking out the window. I didn’t think that was the last time I was going to see her alive.
The whole week my mind was filled with thoughts of Piper, wishing and praying hard that she recover. For three days Piper stayed at the vet clinic, with my father and the vet doing everything they can to save Piper. Piper was a strong puppy. Although very sick, she still showed signs of recovery the first few days. And then a few hours later, lay weak again. Then the next day, show again some improvement. She was fighting the illness.
But the virus was too much for Piper’s fragile body. At 2am on Friday, she went into cardiac arrest and passed away.
Nothing could describe how I felt when my father told me the news that Friday morning. I had difficulty breathing through my tears, as I talked to him on the phone, telling me how Piper was crying in pain when he left her at the clinic.
I was so devastated. I didn’t attend any of my classes any more that day, because I knew I wouldn’t stop crying. The entire ride from Quezon City to our home I was crying. She was still too young. She didn’t even make it to her 4th month birthday.
I took care of her the best way I could. I treated her like my own baby. That’s why it hurts so much to watch your puppy suffer, and not even know how to help her because you can’t ask her what’s wrong.
I cried the entire day. The house just wasn’t the same. Piper was gone. We won’t be seeing her anymore lying on the floor sleeping, looking like a rag because of her fur. We won’t be seeing her anymore shooting from across the room when we called her name. I’m going to miss the times we look for her when she’s out of sight, only to find her hiding underneath the china cabinet or the sofa, and how we had to drag her out because she wanted to stay in that corner. I’m going to miss the way she would lay on the floor on her side, and raise her hindleg up when we came near so we could rub her belly. I’m going to miss the times that she would collect every slipper in sight and put them on a pile on my beanbag. I’m going to miss the way she jumped everytime she sees her food bowl, or the way she watched me while I ate, licking her nose and being green with envy.
I used to hate it when I had to clean her crate every night before we sleep, when I had to follow her around when she starts sniffing so I can catch her poop with a newspaper, when I had to mop the floor when she peed, or when I had to wake up early so I can feed her. But I now miss all of them. Especially the way she waited for me to wake up every morning, and get really excited and start jumping around when I finally call her name and I get out of bed.
I remember the first time I got back to the city because I had classes the next day. I brought her with me to stay, because I was alone at that time. I was cleaning my room, and she just lay there waiting for me patiently to finish so she could have my full attention. She was also the one who looked at me with eyes full of concern when I was crying. I was pouring my heart out to her, and she looked at me, tilting her head. I knew she couldn’t understand any word I was saying, but the look on her face was enough to make me feel better because she knew what I was feeling.
I am feeling a little better right now. But I still cry whenever I see her little spot in my room where she used to sleep every night.Then I remember everything about her and I start crying all over again.
Perhaps some people would probably think that crying this way over a dog is real silly. But what they don’t understand is how much Piper has brought so much joy to my family. It’s so difficult to lose someone who used to be there, always happy just to see you.
Love transcends species. When you love someone, it’s difficult to let go. It doesn’t matter if you’re dealing with an animal or a human. It’s still love that you give freely to another being.
