Our Bitsy

Bitsy is our eleven-year-old miniature dachshund.  She is truly a member of our family, and has enriched our lives over the years.  When my mother died in November of 1998, we inherited her miniature dachshund/tea cup chihuahua mix; his name was BoBo (she spelled it BeauxBeaux).  Mom really loved BoBo — he was her reason for getting up each morning during the last five years of her life. He was a little, well actually a lot, stubborn and didn’t hesitate to let you know when he was not pleased. He was also incredibly smart and learned a number of tricks while with our family. He was the unofficial mascot of the Texas A & M Women’s Lacrosse team.  Dorothy had knitted him a little TAMU cape which he wore to the games — during the rest time between periods, he would fetch balls thrown out on the field.  Fetching was his favorite thing; he would do it until his unsuspecting “thrower” was worn out. We actually had BoBo longer than mom did — when his health declined, Leslie and Liz gifted us with a new puppy that we named Bitsy.  BoBo wouldn’t have much to do with Bitsy, but her presence in our home perked him up, and he lived another year. The weekend that he died, Leslie had some old Lacrosse friends up to the lake, and BoBo played fetch with them just like the good old days.  He died in Leslie’s lap, content and happy after a full weekend of fetching with his old buddies.

When BoBo passed, Bitsy became queen of the realm. While she was never much for fetching, she loved to hunt.  To this day, she spends her time roaming our property, looking for squirrels, lizards, possums, or anything else she can mange to catch.  I have lost count of how many squirrels she has killed over the years, but it is quite a few, over 20 for sure. She is devoted to Dorothy and I, and her companionship truly makes us feel loved!  Here are a few pics of our beloved Bitsy…

June 22, 2021,  A Sad Day As We Say Goodbye To Our Dear Bitsy…

Today was a sad day for Dorothy and I as we said goodbye to our beloved little Bitsy.  In the Spring of 2020, when we took her in to have her yearly shots, our vet advised that her health was not good enough for her to have a rabies vaccination.  She said that Bitsy’s liver was failing, and that it was only going to be a matter of time before she passed on.  Bitsy was also beginning to have trouble walking and getting around, due to arthritis.  So we got some pain medicine and something that was supposed to help with her liver, knowing that there was nothing we could do that would forestall the inevitable end of her time on this planet.  But Bitsy is a trooper, and she surprised us both by living as long as she did after the diagnosis.  We had asked the vet how we would know when the time was near, and she said when she quit eating that would be a sign that she was close to the end.  About a month ago, her appetite began to steadily decline so we knew she was winding down.  Even though it was painful for her, she would still occasionally follow me outside, just to be at my side, and would always wait in the driveway for us to come home.  She seemed to know when I was going to sit under my airport out front and liked to follow me out there to watch for birds.  Toward the end, I got in the habit of picking her up and holding her in my lap.  We would have long conversations together, and I did my best to tell her how much I loved her.  The last time we had such a conversation was yesterday.  I will miss my little friend.  I will miss her fierce loyalty .  I will miss her inquisitive nature.  I will miss her good nature. I will miss her faithful and giving spirit.  Rest in peace Bitsy, and thank you for your many years of love and companionship.  You were the best. 

July 11, 2022,  Thinking of Bitsy…

This morning, as I often do, I found myself thinking of Bitsy. I often think of her as I return home to the lake house, expecting to see her standing on our asphalt drive, patiently waiting for me.  I often think of her when I see squirrels cavorting in the back yard…this new crop has no memory of Bitsy and her patrols.  But this morning, I thought of her as I read Sean Dietrich’s daily post.  Sean Dietrich is a columnist and writer, and I enjoy his daily dose of common sense and humanity.   His words often provide a break from the seemingly endless bad news that each day brings in these strange times in which we find ourselves.  This morning, he wrote about the funeral of a dog named Jack, and it made me think of Bitsy.  He titled the piece “The Goodbye”.  Here is a part of what he wrote:

Even so, it’s impossible to forget a guileless creature. He was friend of man and woman. He never turned down an opportunity involving pleasure or immediate gratification.

He possessed beauty without vanity. Joy without remorse. Strength without cruelty. Excitement without reservation. Love without condition. All the virtues of man, without any of his vices.

He was more than a dog. He was somebody. Somebody named Jack. And today he walks with Thee.

Sean’s piece almost made me feel guilty for not giving Bitsy a formal funeral of some sort.  But, thinking of Bitsy, I know she wouldn’t have minded one bit.  I still think of you Bitsy, and I still love you.  Rest in peace my friend.