08/26/2021
HAPPY NATIONAL DOG DAY! Meet Greta Goodtrouble.
If you know me at all, you know I’m a dog person. I can rattle off obscure facts about Newfoundlands, I once hired a dog to sniff out bed bugs at an old apartment, and I think the ideal Saturday morning involves creeping at the dog park with pastry in hand. When we bought our house last October we immediately began to search for the furry family member that would make our new space a real home.
We adopted a puppy, Freya, in January but discovered after just a few weeks together that her heart hadn’t been fully formed at birth. We worked with a team of cardiologists to provide her with the best possible care but her heart simply could not grow with her. As her quality of life declined we were forced, with heavy hearts, to let her go.
Our time together was short but we filled it with love. Beef tripe, dried duck eyeballs, maple bacon peanut butter… if it was edible and it smelled atrocious she tried it! We tucked her into a duffle bag and carried her on long walks to see waterfalls and wildflowers (you know, stuff a human would want to see). In our deep grief it brought us comfort to celebrate life with her. She was a reminder that love is bittersweet; always coupled with loss.
And worth the risk. We mourned Freya’s loss but also knew we need (literally NEED) that “nothing like it” dog love in our lives. Last week we welcomed Greta into our home and it has been a non-stop cuddle fuddle, puppy dreaming, ball chasing, furniture nibbling, water bowl spilling celebration of the “fill you up with tears” kind of joy of unconditional love. I can’t wait for the adventures ahead of us.