~by Susi Pittman

Unbridled exuberance, joy of living and unconditional love wrapped up in spotted black and white is quite a gift from the Creator. That’s my 8-year-old Dalmatian, Buddy!

We have always called Bud the Wonder Dog. I have written a whole chapter to that claim in my book, Animals in Heaven?

Bud was a rescue. Whoever had owned Bud before had felt the need to duck tape his feet with camouflage tape and cinch a leather strap so tight around his neck that it had left an indelible mark for months. Yet, this wonderful animal continued to love and trust the humans in this world…all he wanted was someone to love and trust him back. And I did!

Bud had heart worms when I got him, so he had to go through heartworm treatments. This is always dangerous, due to the nature of the medicine administered to kill the worms. Two years following that ordeal, Bud’s bladder developed a blockage from a stone and had to under-go emergency surgery to save his bladder from bursting.

Bud has always been a physically strong dog exercised and well fed.

Today, Bud is fighting his biggest battle. A week ago, Buddy jumped off my bed and landed wrong on the floor. Within 12 hours, he had developed a stiffness and sensitivity that said he was in pain. I took him to the Vets who diagnosed a bulging disc, placing Bud on an anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxers. For a few days he seemed to do better. Then by Saturday, his mobility had substantially deteriorated and by Sunday morning, his front legs were paralyzed. We rushed him to the emergency Pet ER.

He was sent immediately to a neurosurgeon for evaluation. Bud needed an immediate operation. He had a huge slipped disc that was causing the paralysis and hematomas that complicated the mix. The neurosurgeon worked for 4 hours to a successful end and ultimately gave me hope for a good prognosis for the future. In the next 48 hours, we hope that Buddy will be able to show signs of movement in both front legs.

Through all of this, I have been both saint and sinner.

I was stunned at first when Buddy could not move on Sunday. I found myself in the bathroom crying and talking with God. My emotions raw and my humanity weak, I exclaimed to God, “ You took my mother, you took my father, you have taken my husband….now you want my dog?….I just can’t let him go…I just can’t!”

As the day went on and I waited in the ER room for the doctors analysis, I found myself weeping for yelling at God…weeping for not having more faith…weeping for the sense of loss I now had. I asked God to forgive me.

Last night as I waited for Bud to come out of surgery, I looked into the starry night and said, “Father, I forgot that I was taking care of Bud for you. If it is time that he goes home, then I thank you for giving me the beautiful moments of seeing you in Bud’s eyes. Just please tell him that he better be waiting for me when I come.”

It wasn’t 10 minutes later when the surgeon announced that Buddy had made it and that they would monitor him through the night.

God does care about Buddy, about me, about how this great dog created to reflect and praise the loving spirit of God, makes me a better person. And last night, God gave me a little more time with Buddy, which I promise will not go to waste.

Now we know that for those who love God all things work together unto good.

~Romans 8:28

Susi Pittman is founder of CatholicStewardsofCreation.com and Owner-President of Twin Oaks Publishing; she is author of Animals in Heaven? Catholics Want to Know!; an advocate for the Florida Catholic Conference; a member of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Council of Women in Jacksonville, Florida; an Associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph, St. Augustine;a member of the Florida Publishers Association, Independent Book Publishers Association, the National Association of Professional Women, the ASPCA, the Humane Society of the United States and the National Audubon society.