Chelita, my sister’s Chihuahua, crossed the Rainbow Bridge tonight. She was 19 years old, deaf and blind, but still quite the little old lady. Up until recently she’d go for walks with Carmen and she had the cutest little hop in her walk (the dog, not Carmen…).
I remember when I first saw her at my mom’s house. Mom already had one Chihuahua, Dollie, so I was very surprised to see another Chihuahua when I entered the house. She was so tiny! A friend found her on the street in Modesto, a wandering, little ragamuffin. She didn’t want another dog, so she asked my sister if she wanted her. She did. And when my sister took her to the vet for a checkup, she was told that Chellie was around 2 years old and had already had a litter!
She soon became part of the deadly duo, Dolly and Chellie. (That almost sounds like Pancho and Lefty… I like it. But back to the story) Even though Chellie was actually timid, when she was with Dolly she became a typical little Chihuahua terror, like Dolly. I remember Dolly biting my grandson when he was a toddler. He had reached out his hand to pet her, and she bit him between the thumb and forefinger. I threw her outside. The next time he came over, he did the same thing, she did the same thing and I did the same thing.
Chellie never bit, that I was aware of, but she would start barking when Dolly started barking and tried to be as feisty and intimidating as Dolly, which was funny because she was tinier than Dolly.
Dolly was run over in front of their house a few years back. My parents lived on a cul-de-sac, so we are pretty sure who hit her, but they’ve never said anything. I was heartbroken when I heard about Dolly. I think Chellie was just as heartbroken. She suddenly became the meek little girl that she had been when she came to us. She didn’t bark anymore. She was so timid. She loved Mom and Carmen, though, and was never far from one or the other.
When Mom passed, Carmen became Chellie’s caregiver and she became the grand dame of the family pets. Whenever you visited their house, you had to be sure to acknowledge and address her highness.
When my oldest sister, Rey, texted me tonight that Chellie was struggling and they were taking her to the vet, my heart sank. I was planning to head up tomorrow for a family get-together this weekend. I wanted to see her and hold her one more time, the tiny little lady. I prayed it was just something simple, that she would be ok and I would see her tomorrow. Then they texted that she was being prepped to be put down and I sat on my couch and sobbed.
Maybe it was because she was my mom’s dog (though Carmen would dispute that…). Something about her still being around gave me something tangible to acknowledge as having belonged to my mom and I was able to connect with her through Chellie. I don’t know if that makes sense, but she was my mom’s dog and my mom is gone and now Chellie is gone and I’m mourning my mother all over again.
The love and affection of a pet is a soothing balm to weary souls. They want to be around you, snuggle with you. They sense your sadness and sit quietly with you. They sense your joy and want to play and be part of the joyfulness. Yes, they need our attention and constant care, but what they give in return with their snuggles and presence far outweighs any inconvenience.
Just as I mourned and miss my first dog, Tip (a Chihuahua), and Dolly, the sweet devil dog, I will miss her ladyship, Chelita. I can’t wait to see you all on the Rainbow Bridge… I need to go now and snuggle with my grand-dog, Taco…
It’s interesting looking for a song about losing a dog. But I found this song and really liked the soothing melody. It’s sung in Korean, but I found the English lyrics and have shared them below. The video is a lovely compilation of dog videos which seems appropriate so here it is.
And the English lyrics for your consideration:
Your Dog Loves You
When I walk with you
I feel that you love me
When I match footsteps with you yeah
The way I feel so happy
Is a fragrant scene
The waves crash lightly
I feel like something new
Whenever and wherever,
I will always be next to you
As we both look at the same thing
If I embrace you like this
Even if we don’t exchange words
As we look at each other
You smile for me
At the moment we both smile together
I embrace you one more time
Everyday & night
When I met you for the first time
I sometimes worry if we will be eternal
When the world disregards you and me
Yeah I’m actually a scaredy cat
I’m quite sensitive and cowardly
But it’s okay
You are solely on my side
If I am born again
I will embrace you first
I promise
As we both look at the same thing
If I embrace you like this
Even if we don’t exchange words
As we look at each other
You smile for me
At the moment we both smile together
I embrace you one more time
Everyday & night
All Things Elda 