Iman and Fabio...I miss you babies

by Karyssa Goss
(Indiana)

When I was about six years old, my sister and I wanted a dog. My parents thought long and hard and finally decided to let us get one. We took a trip to the local animal shelter to find a dog we could rescue. We looked for about thirty minutes when I came upon a very wet, scruffy looking poodle. I found the dog that I wanted. She was a four year old, black, female named Iman. I fell in love with her right away.

My sister wanted to look some more, and when she did, she found a white, four year old male poodle named Fabio. Come to find out they were litter mates and of course my parents didn't want to get two dogs, but they also couldn't separate a brother and sister, so we walked out of that shelter with two poodles. A few days later we realized that we got the two greatest dogs in the world. When they had gotten groomed, I told myself I was never going to go a day without a poodle in my life. They were the most gorgeous dogs I had ever seen. We left their names Iman and Fabio so they wouldn't get confused. They were very well trained and healthy dogs.

A few years later, my family decided to move to Indiana and by that time we added another animal to our home. A great dane named Gypsy. The trip was very long and grueling but they made it look easy. Our moving up here added years onto their life.

A few more years later, we decided to go down to Florida for a family function and unfortunately, we had to leave them in a kennel. My black poodle had never been away from me for more than a day and always slept in my bed, under the covers. I called to check in that whole week.

When we finally got home, my dog acted like she was mad at me. At one o'clock in the morning, I let Iman out because she hadn't been feeling good. When I went to bring her back in, she wouldn't come. I was getting very angry at her because she wouldn't come. I went out and found her and when I picked her up to bring her in, I felt her stomach. I was the size of a basketball. I screamed and ran in to tell my mom. We called every vet we could. It had taken us an hour or so to get there. The whole time I was sobbing because I had felt guilty for going away and getting mad at her. The vet took her back and took some xrays. When she walked into the room, I looked at her face and yelled NO! I probably said no a hundred times that night. My parents made the decision to have her put down. My baby girl took her last breath in my arms where she was always meant to be. She was only 12 when she passed away from bloat.

For two years straight I cired my eyes out and blamed myself. I hated my parents for not being able to pay the $3,000 to fix her. I went into a deep depression and started having panic attacks. I still had Fabio and Gypsy to help me through this hard time. It was the lowest point in my life when I lost Iman. I didn't think anything could be harder than that day. But I was wrong.

Two years later, I went to Florida for Christmas. I had no worries and I was feeling better. When I got back home, I noticed my other poodle Fabio, wasn't eating. He started to lose weight and I had to force feed him. I also had to pick him up and take him outside. Fabio had given up after his sister died. He missed her just as much as me. It was a Monday night, and I heard him wimpering. I rushed out to the kitchen and picked him up, right when I gave him a kiss, he took his last breath, in my arms. He had left me when he knew I had finally gotten over the death of his sister. The saddest part is, is that three weeks later, we had to euthanize our great dane because she had osteosarcoma(bone cancer). Needless to say, I was heart broken.

The dogs that I grew up with were gone. All I know is, is that I was saved by my poodles. They are the best dogs to have and the best dogs to love you. They loved me unconditionally. I have finally gotten to the point where I don't cry over them. I get sad, but I don't cry.

I want everyone to know that having a poodle, will change your life. Thank you so much for having this place for us to talk with other's who are going throught the same thing we are. Hopefully my story will help others to find a poodle to love.