Mama’s Corner is about my passions and sharing them with you. This is a story about Annie, our beloved Shih Tzu.

Our story actually begins with the Shih Tzu before her, Katie. Katie lived a pampered spoiled life, as all domestic animals deserve. She was with us for 16-1/2 years and when we had to put her down, we grieved and mourned for over a year. We could not even think about getting another family animal and going through this pain again. But, time passes, you talk about the many memories that were created with her, and your heart begins to heal. We were ready to fill the void that Katie left.
We found Annie through a breeder that lived in the eastern part of our state. After communicating with her, we drove the 5 hour trip to get her. She was simply adorable. Annie is a “brindle” and not so common. That’s what drew me to her. We love her so much. She began to fill the hole in our hearts.

Meanwhile, 3000 miles away, after living in Florida for over ten years, our youngest son was preparing for a career change. He was planning on coming back home where we would start a family business together. Enter Churchill, his Yorkshire Terrier.

Churchill came to live with us when Annie was 6 months. Churchill was elderly and didn’t have the energy to engage in play with Annie. But he quickly became Annie’s older brother and mentor. Churchill was an extremely smart streetwise Terrier. He taught her many things. Some of them not so good. Like barking and charging the fence at the dogs next door trying to protect and claim his territory. He taught her to use the doggie door. Once we taught him, he taught Annie. He would go out the doggie door, stand on the porch and look back at her as if to say “Follow me kid, I’ll show you how it’s done!” She didn’t quite get it, so he’d come back in, look at her, go back out, stand on the porch and look back at her. FINALLY, she got it and followed him. If you know the Shih Tzu breed, you know they were bred to sit on the pillows of Kings and Queens and have everything done for them. So, certain things are harder to learn. Don’t get me wrong. They are extremely smart. They just let you think they are a little dumb. But, inside they plot and scheme and usually have their owners trained.

We were lucky enough to have Churchill for another 2 years. Churchill’s health began to fail. He was such a special boy and we loved him so much. Every time we felt we should let him go, he had a little burst of energy and he would try and eat and would take more fluids and he gave us hope. When the end did come, he was the one that told us “I’m ready, let me go”.
After 1-1/2 years of grieving and mourning , we were ready to add another dog to our family. We didn’t really think about what Annie was feeling, as we were so caught up in our own feelings. Annie didn’t act depressed or sad and couldn’t tell us, so it never occurred to us that Annie was hurting too. Annie’s sadness came out in other ways, that we can look back at now and recognize that, she too, was grieving.

We now have Spider, a SilkieTerrier, who we rescued from the United Yorkie Rescue. He is truly a blessing, as he has helped heal our hearts from losing Churchill and is a companion to Annie. We love him so much. His temperment fits in perfectly with our family. He and Annie keep us laughing all the time. Annie is so much happier. She now has a playmate and a boyfriend!

And, so the cycle begins again. Once you’ve loved an animal and count them members of your family, you are a changed person. An animal can bring such joy and happiness to your soul. We talk often of the ones who have passed, and their memories bring us comfort.

From Mama’s Corner – our dogs are my greatest passion of all!