In spring, 2019, I lost my shih tzu, Kirby, to old age. I have had dogs almost all of my adult life but decided I would not get another dog. After some months, I changed my mind and started looking for another companion. I knew I wanted a small dog, preferably another shih tzu and began looking around. In this rural farming community, it is difficult to find that breed.
Early one evening, about dusk, a young man came rushing up to my front door. I answered it and he asked, in a panic, "Have you seen my dog? It's a blonde shih tzu, she got out of the yard." It was dead winter and very cold, 0F at night. I said no but got his contact info and said I would keep an eye out for her.
A couple of weeks later, I was in bed just drifting off to sleep and had a dream that there was a shih tzu standing at the end of my sidewalk staring at the front door. Blonde and white, just standing there staring at the door. I bolted out of bed, put on my robe and slippers, grabbed a flashlight and went outside, thinking it may be that little lost dog. Nothing. Walked up and down the road in that dark, bitter, snowy cold, calling for her and nothing.
Went back inside and laid awake for a long time. That dream was so real, so vivid! Two days later, I was loading groceries in the car and remembered that the local shelter was very near. I drove there intending to get my name on a list for a small dog, any breed. It was a sunny day, not too cold, and they had many of the dogs outside in their runs. As I rounded the corner, all those dogs were barking at me except one...a blonde shih tzu that looked just like the one in my dream!
I walked over to the run, the tag on the gate said "Male Shih Tzu", and I said, "Well, hello there Little Guy!" (That is how he got his name.) I petted him through the fence for a few minutes, then went inside and said, "That's my dog!"
They told me it had been turned in as a stray two evenings ago, the very night I had had that dream. I told them about the dream and that I wanted that dog. They had to advertise for ten days in case an owner would claim him back. I went there every day and walked him on leash; he was perfect! I donated $500, anything to get him as other people were interested in him, too. And ten days later, he was mine. I firmly believe he was sent to me.
He has been the best dog I have ever had. Sweet, loving, funny. The shelter folks guess-timated he was about five years old (in 2020); the vet thought he was more like seven, which would make him about twelve now.
He is getting slow, sleeping a lot more than usual. Still eating well, plays sometimes with the young spaniel mix. But the other day, he came in from outside and had what I believe to be a seizure. Both of my previous shih tzus had neurological problems the last year or so of their lives. I have seen this before. So now, it is beginning. It breaks my heart to know that our time together is coming to an end.
Early one evening, about dusk, a young man came rushing up to my front door. I answered it and he asked, in a panic, "Have you seen my dog? It's a blonde shih tzu, she got out of the yard." It was dead winter and very cold, 0F at night. I said no but got his contact info and said I would keep an eye out for her.
A couple of weeks later, I was in bed just drifting off to sleep and had a dream that there was a shih tzu standing at the end of my sidewalk staring at the front door. Blonde and white, just standing there staring at the door. I bolted out of bed, put on my robe and slippers, grabbed a flashlight and went outside, thinking it may be that little lost dog. Nothing. Walked up and down the road in that dark, bitter, snowy cold, calling for her and nothing.
Went back inside and laid awake for a long time. That dream was so real, so vivid! Two days later, I was loading groceries in the car and remembered that the local shelter was very near. I drove there intending to get my name on a list for a small dog, any breed. It was a sunny day, not too cold, and they had many of the dogs outside in their runs. As I rounded the corner, all those dogs were barking at me except one...a blonde shih tzu that looked just like the one in my dream!
I walked over to the run, the tag on the gate said "Male Shih Tzu", and I said, "Well, hello there Little Guy!" (That is how he got his name.) I petted him through the fence for a few minutes, then went inside and said, "That's my dog!"
They told me it had been turned in as a stray two evenings ago, the very night I had had that dream. I told them about the dream and that I wanted that dog. They had to advertise for ten days in case an owner would claim him back. I went there every day and walked him on leash; he was perfect! I donated $500, anything to get him as other people were interested in him, too. And ten days later, he was mine. I firmly believe he was sent to me.
He has been the best dog I have ever had. Sweet, loving, funny. The shelter folks guess-timated he was about five years old (in 2020); the vet thought he was more like seven, which would make him about twelve now.
He is getting slow, sleeping a lot more than usual. Still eating well, plays sometimes with the young spaniel mix. But the other day, he came in from outside and had what I believe to be a seizure. Both of my previous shih tzus had neurological problems the last year or so of their lives. I have seen this before. So now, it is beginning. It breaks my heart to know that our time together is coming to an end.
Somebody up there loves you both.