All My Children

by Peggy Pick

Fate and timing are wondrous things. Think about when you met your spouse or just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Think about how by chance you were given, through the blessings of fate and Divine Intervention, a wonderful gift.  Meeting Eric was the most serendipitous of these occurrences, and together we’ve experienced this several times with our canine children. I’m more than beginning to believe we were meant to have each dog that came our way, that they were heaven sent.

We happened to drive past an apartment building just as Reno’s first owner had him outside on a leash. We could easily have turned right instead of left out of our condo complex. We could so easily have missed our Crown Prince and First-Born Basenji. I hate to think what would’ve happened to him if kismet had not given us a firm push in his direction. His first owner was a student, her boyfriend didn’t like Reno, and he probably would’ve ended up at the pound. And we would have missed one of the greatest loves and gifts of our life. Fortunately, the angels were watching out for all of us because we were absolutely meant to be together.

Reno

When we lost Reno, our world tilted sharply on its axis, wobbled erratically, and seemed to be spinning completely out of control. How could the same fates that brought us together take our boy so soon?  That’s the problem with great gifts, at least in this life. We three could communicate together on such a deep level, we shared such an unshakable love, that the cost for such a gift is very dear.

Providence and the angels took pity on us, such lost and heartbroken humans. Providence also surely has a sense of humor because the next happy convergence of forces sent us Ivan. 
Ivan
Such a whirlwind of energy and enthusiasm, of certainty the world revolves around him, of motion and exuberance.
We brought Ivan into our home and unleashed the invincible combination of awesome powers of destruction, irresistible Bambi expressions, affectionate snuggles, and voracious appetites for everything—food, attention, paper, bunnies, earthworms. Such a little force of nature is Ivan that we were pulled back from the abyss by the sheer intensity of his personality.  Divine intervention took the form of a gorgeous playful basenji who saved us. We were destined to be together.

We had no intention of becoming a two dog family. Ivan commands extra doses of attention and energy. However, the angels loaned us one of their own, and we were privileged to live with Leo for eight short months before they came to claim him. I feel certain we were meant to share Leo’s last few months, just as I believe Leo was an angel in disguise.

Leo

Again, when we lost Leo, we were not looking for another dog. We felt Ivan was more than enough to keep us busy. This time, fate landed gently because God knew we could not survive another dog like Ivan. We were sent Dasa, a shy, quiet, good little girl who provides a lovely foil to Ivan’s world domination. Now, I can’t imagine not having Dasa. I can’t even begin to think of all we’d miss without our sweet tiny girl.  I know she was meant to be ours.

 Dasa

Sometimes, I think I should listen more carefully for what destiny has in store for me. The record so far has been outstanding. We’ve been given the best gifts of our lives together. We can’t take credit for it, but we’ve been given the best four dogs we never asked for.