On May 15, 2002, I was out shopping with my boyfriend, celebrating our one year anniversary. I had decided that I wanted to go to the pet store and adopt another iguana. In February, my iguana Pooka had been lost and I had decided it was time to bring home a new friend. While at the pet store, I was playing with a boy beagle puppy and was totally smitten. There were signs all around the store advertising the ability to finance puppies. At this point, I was no longer interested in an iguana. I called my mom at work and told her that I was going to bring home a puppy. She tried to talk me out of it and after a few minutes of dealing with my stubbornness, she told me to call my father. So I called my dad and told him that I was going to bring home a puppy. He asked how I was going to pay for it and I told him about the financing. He asked where I was and told me to not do anything stupid, he was on his way. While waiting for my dad, the sales person at the store asked me if I wanted to see the little girl beagle that he had gotten in that day, I said yes and he brought her out just as my dad got there. The second I saw her, I knew that not only would she be in my life, but that she would make my life whole. My dad saw my reaction and knew and to save me from financing and interest and such, my dad bought me my beagle with the intention of me paying him back. By my birthday in October, my dad decided that Isabel would be an early birthday gift and she was the best gift that anyone could ever have given me.
Needless to say, that day 11 years ago, was the beginning of a relationship that went beyond dog and master or even the closest human / animal bond. Isabel was my dog, my best friend, my baby. She was my beagle. Last week, I lost her. I have still not really accepted this fact in my heart; the loss of her has left a wound that will take a very long time to heal. I am very grateful that I was given 11 years with her; I was very blessed to have her in my life and she left me with very special memories. Everyone who knew her loved her. She had a way of making people smile and she was always willing to cuddle up with anyone who was eating. There will never be another Isabel Isabeagle Burns and the impact of her loss is felt by everyone in my home more than we ever expected. I have lost my Isabel and there will always something missing in my life and a piece of my soul with her in heaven. All I can hope for is that I will see her again one day and that in the meantime, she misses me too and remembers her life with me with love and comfort.