R.I.P. Candy Dapple

After 16 wonderful years, my parents put our sweet lil' Dachshund, Candy, down this evening. It was not an easy decision, obviously, and we are all heartbroken. Her health had been declining the past few months. She had kidney problems, back problems, seizures, she couldn't see or hear well...I guess just the normal health problems and older dog gets. He quality of life wasn't good. Luckily they were able to have someone come to the house and do it. It was peaceful and fast.

My parents got her when she was a puppy. They went to the wiener dog farm (that's what I call it) to pick one out to bring home. Candy came out of the kitchen with a wooden spoon she had just gotten from the dishwasher and my dad said, "That's the one. Wrap her up." She's what you call a Dapple and the owners named her "Candy Dapple." My parents stuck with the Candy part but dropped the Dapple. She was very smart and very intuitive. She could tell when my parents were about to go on a trip and would freak out.  Or if they were just going out for the night, she'd sense it and go get in her bed before they could tell her. She was great on walks and was super affectionate. She actually was a bit of a daddy's girl.

A few months after getting her, they decided to adopt Louie, also a dachshund who looks more like a Jack Russel Terrier. He's slightly younger than Candy but acts like a puppy. He will be sad to lose his sister and best friend.

Dogs bring so much joy and happiness to people's lives, but they certainly don't live long enough. I'm going to write a letter to the Dog Fairy and tell her to make dogs live longer so humans don't have to suffer.

R.I.P Candy. We love you!