Sometimes it’s hard to describe love. I don’t think there are different types of love, maybe just different levels of love. I mean, I love a sunny day. I also love cake, but not on the same level as I love my family. Get it? Levels.
Three years ago, if you told me that I would love a dog on that same level as my family, I would have laughed in your face. But it happened. I guess it really is hard to explain to a “non” pet owner. It’s really is true though, they become members of your family. Sophie is like my second child. There was a time when she was crazy sick for two weeks and I couldn’t leave her side. So when I was contacted by this family, there was no question about it. We were gonna take some wonderful family pictures and Maggie would be the star.
A few weeks before the family found out some horrible news. Maggie was sick. Very sick. The Dr. didn’t give her much time, but they were trying some experimental therapies and things were looking okay but not great. Now was the perfect time to see her in action, because she still felt good enough to do some of her favorite things.
During the shoot we talked a lot about Maggie. I learned that she went to school and played with the kids quite a lot. Her favorite treat was hotdogs. She loved to walk the trails behind her house and chase butterflies in the open field. Maggie had a particular disdain for a “certain” neighbor dog, but we are all like that sometimes. She watched one special boy grow up and move off to collage. She slept in the “big bed” and had a special ramp so that she didn’t have to jump.
We took things slow and hit all of her favorite hangouts. She even got to swim in the fountain, where she found a stick that she carried around for the rest of the shoot.
A few weeks later I got the e-mail that said Maggie hadn’t made it. My heart broke. Maggie was loved on a different level. A high, deep, reserved for family level.
I’m sure she is chasing butterflies and eating all the hot dogs she wants now. Here though, she is more than missed.
