Lovely Louie
Louie Berman May 30, 1998-March 6, 2011
Dear Louie,
We put you to sleep last night after a very brave fight. Your ultimate diagnosis was all too fitting: your heart was too big. In fact, I never knew another dog with such an amazingly warm, huge heart.
I found you in July 1998 and I knew the second I laid eyes on you I could never let you go. You were my Sweet 16 birthday gift, the best gift I ever received. My mom and I went to a breeder and there you were playing with all your other siblings. They were all black and then there was you, this tiny red puppy with so much jubilance and spunk. You were also the smallest, which was a bonus in my book. We were driving home with you and I realized you were so little you fit in the palm of my hand. I saw a billboard that was advertising “Louie’s Steakhouse” or something of that nature and decided you were undoubtedly a “Louie.”
You were many firsts for me. You were my first baby, my first love, my first real notion that a creature could really make my life complete. I remember being completely obsessed with you, calling home from my first job at TCBY every 10 minutes checking to make sure you were OK. I remember talking on and on about you to all my friends and bragging about how cute you were. I watched you melt the hearts of every member of my family and develop their own special bond with you.
There are so many things I’m going to miss about you and your adorable personailty. I’ll miss the way you ran in circles out of excitement over and over again around the house when you realized I was home. I’ll miss your mini spins you made when you expected your treat. I’ll miss your “hinge” yawns you made when you were your most content. I’ll miss the way you always climbed up onto the pillows of the couch to make a sort of “throne” as if the comfortable couch just wasn’t enough. I’ll miss the way you would stand in between my feet just so I knew you were there and you were saying hi. I’ll miss our trips to the beach where you thought the waves were a game and you had to run away from them before they got you. I’ll miss the way you always let me (and only me) hold you like a baby. I’ll miss your “guard dog” growls that you thought were so intimidating even though we all knew you couldn’t hurt a fly. Most of all, I’ll miss the joy, amusement and completeness you brought to my family. We have so many memories with you that will be cherished forever.
Thank you for being such a wonderful dog. I hope you are resting and at peace up there in doggie heaven. We’ll always love you my little red Louie.
Love,
Emily