On October 8, 2014

In honor of our four-legged friends

By Robin Alberti

This week I had to let go of my 14-year-old dog, Maple. She came from a German Shepherd mom and unknown father. She picked me out when she was 9 weeks old, trampling all the other puppies in the puppy room at the Deschutes County Humane Society in Oregon, to put her paws on my knee and lick my chin. It was love at first sight.

I know many of you feel as I do: pets are family members, not possessions. When someone would ask me if I have kids, I have always answered “I have two two-legged kids and two four-legged kids.” I am a firm believer that when you take on the responsibility of giving a pet a home, it is a lifetime commitment.

Pets bring us so much joy, love, affection and entertainment. Even some of their annoying habits or bad behavior become funny stories to tell. Maple ate one of my two-legged children’s gingerbread houses every year until last, despite our best efforts to place them where she could not get to them. Having our gingerbread houses last until the New Year was a sign she was getting old.

Maple was there with me through a move across the country, the birth of my kids, my divorce, Tropical Storm Irene flooding our home, and many other ups and downs of life. Her love and devotion was unwavering. Even though she was not thrilled to share my attention when I had my two-legged children, she recognized them as part of our pack. Once my son starting throwing food from his high chair though, Maple decided that kids were not such a bad thing after all!

I have received many thoughtful words of condolence over the past few days and have had many people share their stories with me about their wonderful pets. But the one thing that meant the most to me came from my dad, who was up in Maine at the time. He went to the local humane society and made a donation in honor and memory of Maple.

My kids and I baked dog biscuits last year at Christmas time and delivered them to the Rutland County Humane Society and we support that shelter as much as we can. Shelters can always use cash donations, but they need many other items too, like worn out sheets and blanket. Making a donation to your local humane society in honor of a pet is truly a meaningful way to honor a pet that has touched your life and left paw-prints on your heart.

Maple will always be in my heart and on my mind. My kids and I will tell stories of her antics and think of her every year when we build our ginger bread houses.

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

What if Vt’s housing crisis was a bridge?

April 23, 2025
On June 11, 2023, a tanker truck full of gasoline was traveling on Philadelphia’s Interstate 95 when it approached an off-ramp and overturned. The truck spilled 2,500 gallons of gasoline mixed with ethanol, which then ignited. Philadelphia Fire Captain Boyd reported, “Every square foot of the underpass was nothing but flame.” The fire ran into…

Green Up Day is May 3

April 23, 2025
When I went to Kent Pond the other week to launch for the first time, I was all stoked to enjoy the beauty of nature right from the boat launch. But the joke was on me because right behind the treasured bench was a bag of unattended—you guessed it—dog poop. How nice of someone to…

A puzzling situation

April 23, 2025
Over the years, I’ve told my son at least a thousand times, “It’s a puzzle, figure it out.” Borne of necessity, I used the phrase to promote action in my child, given that his first response to difficulty, traditionally, was to either give up or make a half-hearted attempt. Because of his laissez-faire attitude, my…

Mating rituals of muskrats

April 23, 2025
Muskrat mating is so sensational that songs have been written about it. Fans of 1970s pop music might be familiar with a certain ballad, written by Willis Alan Ramsey and popularized by bands like America and Captain & Tennille, about two anthropomorphic muskrats falling in love. Though you probably won’t find breeding muskrats “nibblin’ on…