For some reason I feel like sharing their story. So I will. Read if you'd like. : )
Ozzie & Kelsey were born in 1988, a year before I was. My parents bred Brenna, our first Irish Setter, to another champion Irish. 11 puppies were born in July 1988 and Ozzie & Kelsey were two puppies my parents kept. At that point my family had Brenna, Slick (Brenna's brother and littermate), Ozzie, Kelsey, and Canis (Irish Setter mix).
Out of these 5 dogs, I definitely remember Ozzie and Kelsey the most because I was older when they passed on. I grew up with them. As one-year-old dogs they helped welcome me into the world, and as a ten year old girl in 2000 I saw them leave it. All those years, they were my very best friends. I called us the "Three Musketeers" and even made a song to our name - can't remember it now, though. When I was very young, my parents were so busy with us three kids and dogs that they paid less and less attention to the dogs, especially Ozzie and Kelsey when they were the only two left. Don't get me wrong; they were fed, had clean water, stayed inside, and were never outright neglected nor abused, but they deserved so much more. In their older years they rarely got walks and were confined to the laundy room/basement most of the time, except for being outside in the kennel or on the rare occasion they could come in the family room. (And this was when I pleaded with my parents to let them come in with us). I feel bad sometimes still, but I was 10 when they died, so I can't really blame myself. My parents still feel bad about it, but it is the past, and Cadie and Riley are definitely living the good life.
But anyway, back to Ozzie and Kelsey. Those two were amazing. There is no other word to describe how truly amazing these animals were. They loved me so much. I stayed in that laundry room for hours every day just playing with them, and did they love me for it! Kelsey used to rub her head against my stomach. Ozzie was the gentlest dog you could ever meet, and I mean that 100%. He would never even wrestle with anyone because he had such a fear of hurting a person. He had a permanent life long breathing problem that could not be fixed. His breathing was much louder than a normal dog, but it didn't hurt him. Sometimes, I can imagine hearing the loud, heavy sound of him breathing and it still pangs my heart. He slept behind the furnace every night...each morning, when I woke up, I'd go immediately to the laundry room to be with those two. Ozzie would scurry to his feet and emerge from behind the furnace, tail wagging and Kelsey would roll over from her side and greet me as well. I have so many wonderful, priceless memories with them.....such sweet, endearing moments. Sometimes when I think of them, and the times we had together, I can't help but cry softly. They *were* my childhood. I'd give anything, anything to be able to spend a day with them, though I know that's obviously not possible. I can't wait to see them in Heaven someday, I know they are there.
In 1998, when the dogs were 10 years old, my family and I went to Myrtle Beach for vacation and left Ozzie and Kelsey at a kennel. When we got back, my dad and I went to pick them up. I still remember sitting in the front seat of our van, my heart racing with excitement to see them. When we went inside, Kelsey was already out of her cage and she rushed to me with pure joy. The kennel worker then went and let Ozzie out of his cage......he ran toward me, and JUMPED on me. Ozzie. The gentlest, most considerate dog you could ever know...jumped on me, because he just couldn't contain his happiness and excitement. That was the only time I ever remember him jumping on me or even doing anything that could "hurt" someone. I was so surprised. I was 8 years old and I still can picture that scene perfectly like it was yesterday.
When I was upset with my parents or siblings, I would always say the same thing: "I'm going to the dogs". And I would. I remember being sad at times and crying into their fur.....they were so incredibly patient and comforting. They never tried to get some space or get away from me. They just stood there with my arms around them until I felt better.
Sometimes my parents would tell me I needed to spend less time with the dogs, do other more social things. But I didn't care. Ozzie and Kelsey needed me, and most of all I needed them.
In spring 2000, at the age of 12, Kelsey died of a stroke. I was devastated as you can imagine, and our trio was down to two. Ozzie lived for one more month. That whole month, my parents felt bad for him not having his sister anymore, so he was allowed to be in the actual house with everyone and slept on a ghostbusters blanket in the living room. One morning before school, maybe a week before he died, my sister and I tried to get him up to go outside and potty. It took us 20 minutes, because he refused to get up until he rolled over. Like rolling over as a dog would do on command...it took him 20 darn minutes just to get himself to do that, he was old. But he did it, and that is such a happy memory of him. When he died of a stroke soon after, I felt so lost and alone I didn't know what to do. I remember my dad and brother rushing him to the vet with in a big blanket, and they wouldn't let me come (for obvious reasons I now know). When the van pulled back into the driveway an hour or so later, all that got out of the car was my dad, my brother, and that dumb blanket. No Ozzie. I knew.
My parents swore off dogs for a while, until the time was right. A couple months later we got Cadie from a great breeder. My parents said no more dogs until many years from then, when Cadie was gone. Last year, we adopted Riley from the humane society.
Ozzie and Kelsey were purebred Irish Setters, 1 male and 1 female, and sweet as could be...they loved me and I loved them. 8 years after Ozzie and Kelsey's death, we have Cadie and Riley... purebred Irish Setters, male and female, and sweet as can be. They love me, and I love them.
The point of the story is......life goes on. We can never, ever in a million years replace the dogs who have left us. But there is always space in our hearts for more. Because we are all true dog lovers.....our lives without them would just not be whole.