How Duke(Boxer) & Jr (Yorkie) have changed our lives! (Long one)
On July 21st I was told that it was highly improbable that I would ever have children of my own. While this was beginning to sink in 4 days later my brother in law was killed in an automobile accident. Needless to say it was a very difficult summer for our family. My parents got a Yorkie for my sister so she would have a reason to get up in the mornings. She named him Jr. after her husband, this puppy has literally saved my sister's life! She has to get up and walk him and take care of him, he doesn't leave her side when she starts to cry but most important he has made her laugh with his crazy puppy stunts. We all like to think that my brother in law has sent Jr to help my sister get through this, I swear this puppy even acts like him sometimes!
We were all trying to comfort my sister and help her through this horrible time and I forgot to mourn my "loss". By September I was starting to feel the effects, I wasn't eating and was doing a lot of crying. I didn't want to burden my parents or my sisters with any more issues so my husband and I were basically going through this on our own. The sadness was just overwhelming. My husband and I had always discussed getting a dog and a boxer was at the top of our list since we knew they are good with kids.But with everything that happened this summer we had just stopped looking. One morning we were just reading the paper and he happened to see an ad for a boxer pup and it was within our price range! To make a long story short, 2 weeks later I bought home my beautiful Duke! Duke has changed our lives completely! He makes us laugh and the emptiness I felt inside has been replaced with love and happiness, I know people say that a pet cannot replace a child,but Duke my beautiful furbaby has helped me come to terms with my "loss". I feel that he is our child and even if we eventually adopt, Duke will always be more than a pet. According to my husband Duke has given me back the light in my eyes and I know that Duke has brought back the laughter in our house. And when Duke and Jr get together there is even more love and laughter; imagine a 5 pound dog growling and stealing toys from a 41 pound one! Even though our family will never be the same because of the losses we suffered this summer, Duke and Jr have also changed our families-they brought back HOPE!
, I look for the sweet, wonderful little things and forget about the little unimportant things. I'm blessed with hugs, kisses, a wiggly nubbin and puppy breath everyday. I get to say "I love you" a thousand times more each day. I have learned patience, tolerance and to appreciate the quiet times (as seldom as they appear 
