On August 13, 2003 a crate with two little dogs was left outside the front door of Metairie Small Animal Hospital. The following note was attached to the crate.
"To Whom It May Concern,
I hate doing this, but I can no longer care for these dogs. I'm too old. They take lots of maintenance and need grooming 2-3 times a month.
Their names are Chip & Dip. They are 5 years old - both males and are not fixed and are pure bred mini maltese.
Chip - the one with the blue collar - has epilepsy and is blind in one eye. Chip needs his daily medicine - 1 tablet - each day with a piece of meat. He has gotten his medication today only. Please help.
I know there is a good family who will care & love them.
Thank you."
I can't even imagine how difficult it was for that individual to leave those cute little dogs behind. That person's heart must have broken, just as mine did on the night of August 21 when Chip died.
"Little Chip Man" was the sweetest little guy. He was also my siamese twin. We were seldom apart because he required a lot of special attention. Chip had a number of medical problems besides his epilepsy. After almost losing him to aspiration pneumonia, he was diagnosed with megasophagus. Not long after that, it was determined that he had GME, a terminal brain disease. Chip had to be hand fed upright and had pills lined up on the kitchen counter that he took twice a day. You know what? It was an absolute privilege to do all that was necessary to take care of our little "tough guy." By the way, he was also the luckiest little fellow because his dad, a veterinarian, was always there for him and loved him just as much as me. He accompanied me to work, went on family vacations (that is what all family members do, right?) and, of course, attended special events. With that said, you can only imagine how lonely it is without him. I've lost my little buddy in the physical sense and that hurts. He captured my heart and will live on forever in my memories. When my eyes fill with tears, I remind myself of how fortunate I am to have had him in my life for five years. I will see Chip again. Until that time comes, I will continue to love and honor him.
I would like to thank everyone who helped and loved Chip throughout the years. Among those are the doctors, technicians and staff at Metairie Small Animal Hospital, Dr. Stephanie, Dr. Daryl and Shelly on his last night, Dr. John Mauterer at the La. Veterinary Referral Center, all the friends and family members who welcomed Chip to their homes, Victoria for loving him like your own, my family, Brian for being the best vet ever and for allowing Chip to take up such a large part of our king size bed and Dan, Bobby and Henry, I can feel your sincerity. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!
Logan and Krissi, thank you for being with your dad and me as our little man took his last breath. I will never forget your love and compassion. Victoria, thank you for getting to the hospital with such speed to be there in the minutes that followed. I know you would have been there sooner if you had only known.
To Chip and Dip's original owner, Dip was adopted by a wonderful family. As for Chip, he couldn't have been placed in a more caring and loving family while being afforded all of the top medical attention that he ever needed.
As a tribute to Chip, I would like to borrow the following writings:
. . . I shall see beauty
but none to match your living grace.
I shall hear music
but none as sweet as the droning song with which you loved me.
I shall fill my days
but I shall not, cannot forget.
Sleep soft, dear friend . . .
by Michael Joseph
They say memories are golden, well, maybe that is true.
I never wanted memories, I only wanted you.
A million times I needed you, a million times I cried.
If love alone could have saved you, you never would have died.
In life I loved you dearly, in death I love you still.
In my heart you hold a place no one could ever fill.
If tears could build a stairway and heartache make a lane, I'd walk the path to heaven and bring you back again.
Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same. But as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.
God Bless Our Pets and God Bless Little Chip.
