Our Little Leo

I have known this day was coming.

But that doesn't make it any easier.  We lost Leo.  He passed away in his little crate last night. Bob found him this morning. 

I found Leo at a clients home before we were married.  I was a social worker in my previous life and the family was being evicted.  They were Meth users.  They had this litter of puppies that were the cutest most unhealthy little animals I had ever seen.  When I asked them what they planned to do with the puppies they shrugged their shoulders and said they were just going to leave them.  So I did what any good social worker would do.  I walked around the neighborhood trying to find homes for the puppies.  I placed all but 2.  I called Bob on my way home from the visit.  "Why do I hear dogs in the background?"  I didn't reply.  "Kare.  Did you get a dog?!!!"  "Well, I have 2 dogs."  "What?! 2 dogs?!  What are we going to do with 2 dogs?!"  I wasn't sure.  I just knew that I could not leave them in that box.  Especially Leo.  He was so small and barely moving.  He just looked up at me with these eyes.  These big sad eyes and I could not leave him. 

We took them to the vet.  Leo was 3/4 of a pound.  He fit into the palm of my hand and he was infested with fleas.  The vet told us us he probably wasn't going to make it.  He was about 6 weeks and too young to be away from his mother who hadn't been making milk anymore because she was so malnourished.  I cried all the way home but was determined to love this little dog.  The other dog, now known as Chester, was eventually given to my sister.  But Leo was ours.  We bottle fed him.  He slept curled up next to me in bed.  (I heard about this).  There were night time feedings and potty breaks. I just loved him. 

And he made it. 

Leo was a little shit.  It was impossible to train this dog.  I eventually was able to get him to go potty on the puppy pads, but this would set us up for Leo thinking every area rug or mat was his own personal pad.  Which was a bit infuriating.  He wouldn't sit, or lie down, or roll over.  But he would spin.  Oh Leo could spin.  I wish I would have taken video of it but I will never forget his spinning for treats.  One of the best things about Leo is that he didn't seem to know at all that he was the runt, or how small he really was.  We lived next to some pit bulls.  Badly trained pit bulls.  And Leo would taunt them.  He would stick his head under the fence and pull it back just in the nick of time.  He had balls this little dog. 

We will miss you Leo.  No one could resist you.  Thank you for being a part of us.  I'm sorry for every time I yelled at you for peeing.  I wish I could take them all back.

I love you.

Mama.