Guest Blog Post: The Little Guy Who Stole Our Hearts by Debbie Centeno

Posted on by da-AL

Live long enough, and we’re bound to encounter challenges. With the help of a friend, Debbie Centeno (who runs this blog and this blog) uses her grief to help others…

Chewy

I never knew how much a person could grow to love their pet. I wasn’t raised with pets, other than fish in a tank. And, there’s no way you can take them out of the tank to play, pet or cuddle. I just loved my aquarium but in a materialistic way. As an adult, I didn’t think about getting a pet since I was quite busy with three children. But, after my oldest son passed away, and my two other children were no longer small kids, my daughter convinced me to get a dog. So we opted for a rescue.

Chewy as a puppy

I made a few calls to see what dogs were available to adopt. We found a place that had a mama dog who had recently given birth to seven puppies – six female and one male. The male was the runt and was rejected by his mama, but I wanted a female. That was until we met the little guy, of course. All puppies were side by side sleeping on their tummies, except the little runt who was sleeping on his back almost on top of his sisters. He was much smaller than the others. When I saw him – well, I don’t know what I felt, but I just had to have him, so the volunteer picked him up and placed him in my arms, and that was it. I was in love. I handed him to my husband, and he felt the same way. So off we were with a 5-week old 2-pound Chihuahua/Dachshund mix. We named him Chewy, and it suits him well.

Chewy buckled up in a car

Chewy is now 6-years old and 20 lbs. I can’t imagine life without him and don’t regret having followed my daughter’s advice. He is the most loving, spoiled brat ever who stole our hearts. I know he’s not human, but for me, he’s my baby.

Debbie Centaro

Debbie Centeno is a wife, a grieving mom, an accountant, and a travel blogger. Learn more about her here and here.

Published by da-AL

Happiness Between Tails blog/podcast speaks to and from the heart. It connects lovers — of pets, authors, reading — and of my still-unreleased novels. “Flamenco + the Sitting Cat” and “Tango + the Sitting Cat,” are my love letters to all who fear they're too odd, too damaged, too old, too whatever to find love and happiness with or without a partner. HappinessBetweenTails.com • ContactdaAL@gmail.com • BuyMeACoffee.com/SupportHBT

28 thoughts on “Guest Blog Post: The Little Guy Who Stole Our Hearts by Debbie Centeno”

  4. “I know he’s not human…” you say, and perhaps that’s one of the secrets of the greatness of our dogs. They’re NOT humans. They’re better than humans in so many ways. Wiser, sweeter, with greater ability to love unconditionally. My guy and I have enjoyed two goldens during our family life – one lived until she was 12, and Henry lived until he was 12 1/2 (gone 4 years now). The grieving process was immense for both when they passed away. We’ve decided to not bring another dog into our now family-of-two (kids are grown and have their own dogs and kids). B U T – we have an opportunity to bring a puppy into our lives. And we can’t decide. We both LOVE dogs, but they are so much responsibility and time. (And worry when we travel.) Your post here makes me think having a dog in your life is worth all of that.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I had to put one dear down a few months ago. now I have an elderly dog & a young one — seeing them age almost makes me not want another, but indeed, they give & give & give. all the more reason to adopt a rescue…

      Liked by 2 people

    2. It is worth all that. My worry now is leaving him alone when we go to work. He looks at me with that little sad face and it makes me sad. Whenever possible I take him with me everywhere and have turned down spending New Years and 4th of July elsewhere because I don’t want to leave him alone. He’s terrified of fireworks.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Our dog Henry was even-tempered and easy-going – until fireworks or thunderstorms. Then the poor guy shivered and shook and went through such panic and anxiety. We always made sure to be there for him. And, in fact, the only time he was allowed in our bed with us was during a thunderstorm. He’d climb up and snuggle in between my guy and I, the bed shaking from his tremors. To always BEING THERE for our buddies. xo

        Liked by 2 people

        1. That’s a great idea and we did try it but Chewy wasn’t having it. My daughter has a dog but Chewy was not happy about it at all. My daughter has moved out and, of course, took her dog, Molly. We miss her but I’m sure Chewy could care less.

          Liked by 1 person

  6. I’ve adopted, lived with, cared for when leaving me, grieved so many times I’ve lost count. I am angered when I hear someone say, “it’s just a pet.” No, it’s much more than a pet. Bringing an animal into one’s home means bringing it in as a family member. And it is just that. I am sharing my food, my bed and my life with a shelter kitty named Gigi. She is probably the dumbest cat I’ve ever owned. But, she is also the most loving. She wakes me every morning washing my face, purring, kneading against my back. I doubt I could live without her. I know someday I will have to, and I dread it. But it’s not now. For now, I can love her.

    Liked by 2 people

  7. Loved this story! I have almost always had rescues for the most part. We just lost one a few months ago, now the other two get spoiled even more. My dad has a long haired dachshund, and he loves him, my nieces have dachshunds, and so does my sister. I am looking to find one next.

    Liked by 2 people

      1. I’ll probably get hammered for this but I much prefer dogs than cats. In saying that when I was young I had a cat that I named ‘Mother Cat’. The reason for the name is that she had litter upon litter and at one stage I ended up with 13 cats. My father took care of them. 😦

        Liked by 2 people

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