Pippi

love, nonfiction, , 40 Comments

Pippi was so nervous the day she arrived at our home in her little dog crate. Her brother had no problem sniffing out his new domain and blessing us with a tail wag, but Pippi made a beeline for our then 8-year-old granddaughter and stayed put. All eleven pounds of her shook with fear.

For the first two weeks, we had to carry her between rooms, and slowly she acclimatized. Soon, the clip, clip of her Morkie nails could be heard everywhere and she became the self-proclaimed leader of the pack (humans included).

As rambunctious and bossy as Pippi could be, she showed a different side when small children came to visit – especially if they were timid of dogs. This was our 3-year-old granddaughter. She was petrified. Pippi’s response was to quiet down and submissively lie at the child’s side until she could not resist the soft fur. Pippi conformed many small children this way.

For all the Ukrainian families who found refuge in our home, Pippi became a therapy dog. (Toby too, but he is more reserved). She loved and accepted everyone, inserting herself onto every lap until the owners obligingly gave her a pat. She had her favourite people, of course, and for those she reserved a particular bark that let all of us know her beloved was home.

Small as she was, she was mighty. We had to rescue wild animals from her capture, and once, a landscaping tractor that she refused to let approach our lawn.

If you weren’t paying attention to her needs, like a silver bullet, she’d pounce on your lap, paw on your chest and nose in your face, demanding supper, or a treat, or outside. She could be annoying, if she wasn’t so funny.

Sadly, Pippi died this past Monday. Her decline was sudden and rapid. On that last ride to the vet’s, she looked up at me with those intense eyes and smiled. I just know she’s in doggie heaven running the show now. It wasn’t in her to be any other way.

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Permission to write, paint, and imagine are the gifts I gave myself when chronic illness hit - a fair exchange: being for doing. Relevance is an attitude. Humour essential.

40 thoughts on “Pippi”

  3. Sorry to hear Pippi passed, VJ! Our dear animals have a direct pipeline to our hearts, they give so much. Sounds like Pippi was quite a character – some good memories there!

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  4. I’m sorry for your loss. You’ve written such a lovely tribute to Pippi. It brought a pang to my heart because she looks very similar to my yorkie, Sammy, who died a bit over a year ago. I still miss him so. We are lucky to have had them in our lives.

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  6. So sorry to read Pippi went over the rainbow bridge. 😢 Dogs have a special place in our hearts. I loved to read this story. Petting the fur of animals we cherish is a grounding activity. I’m sorry for your loss. 💖🌈

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      1. You’re welcome, VJ. When my 19 yr-old cat died, I cried when I looked at her toys. We adopted a new cat, however, there will always be special memories of the one we lost.

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  14. What a wonderful personality! And she gave so much comfort. I think we are lucky to have a Pippi in our lives even briefly. Thanks for sharing her story.

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