| Cricket Crossed the Rainbow Bridge
Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:14:51 -0700 - from Boni
It is with sadness that I share with you my dear little miniature pinscher, Cricket, crossed the Rainbow Bridge today. Cricket was 15 1/2 years old.
Cricket joined our family on Labor Day 2000 when I flew to Wichita, KS to pick her up from her foster family. She had spent the first 8 years of her life in a puppy mill and had been rescued. Her spirit wasn't crushed -- only maimed. It took time and patience, and she finally came around and learned to trust my husband and I. She never learned to play with toys or others dogs -- but she sure enjoyed bathtime, a belly rub and a nice scratch behind those radar ears of hers! She had natural ears, uncropped and they stood straight up all by themselves.
Cricket was my first Miniature Pinscher. When I read her story on the IMPS website, I knew that I could give her a life to help her forgot those awful years she spent in a puppy mill. Cricket joined me on many occasions at local animal events where we would set up a booth, representing Critter Haven, and we would educate folks about the link between puppy mills and pet stores. Folks would always stop to look into the playpen, to see the Puppy Mill Survivor. Cricket was a great little ambassador for Critter Haven and helped us spread the message that shelters and rescue groups were full of adoptable pets who needed homes. It was better to adopt than to buy from a pet store.
Cricket occasionally visited nursing homes with me and enjoyed the affection she was given by residents who were delighted to see such a perky little dog. She was calm and quietly rested on laps in wheelchairs or beds and allowed everyone to stroke her soft fur and tell her how beautiful she was.
As she grew older, and arthritis began to give her trouble, we got some steps to help her climb up into our bed. She was never able to jump up on her own. When she discovered she could access the bed or sofa with those steps, she thought she was really hot stuff! Up the steps she would prance and settle herself down onto my memory foam pillow....as if it was there just for her! She allowed me to sleep on a tiny corner of that pillow each night.
Cricket loved to go for car rides. It really didn't matter where we went...she was just delighted to get to go for the ride. And she loved visiting my mom's house where she would explore the big backyard full of grass and wonderful smells. Cricket would patrol the perimeter of the fence, marching around the yard, nose to the ground, like a big ol' bloodhound!
Her favorite time of the day was meal time. Although she had difficulty hearing any other time, she ALWAYS heard me gather up the food bowls and begin to prepare meals for all the dogs. She'd watch me pour in the kibble and then add all the various pills and supplements, followed by a smidgeon of canned food and occasionally a dollop of yogurt or pumpkin, or a spritz of whipped cream! She always thought she could help me hurry along and fix it faster if she barked nonstop as I feverishly worked to prepare each of the dogs' bowls. And then she relished each and every bite, enjoying her meal to the utmost. The other family dogs would practically inhale their food, hardly taking time to even chew -- but not Cricket. She savored the flavor of each tiny bite and licked the bowl completely clean, making sure that she got every single molecule of flavor out of the dish.
After supper in the evenings, she would find me in the living room, relaxing on the sofa to watch an hour or so of TV. Cricket would tilt her head and look at me and then bark at me indignantly, demanding to be lifted up. Then she would settle in close by my left side, nearest my heart, and we'd both lie there comfortably, with me watching TV and Cricket settling in for a cozy little nap before bedtime.
Cricket was diagnosed with congestive heart failure almost a year ago and was taking 2 heart meds daily, along with Rimadyl for her arthritis. Later in 2007 she was diagnosed with pancreatitis, we put her on a low fat diet. She sure loved that Merrick canned food! She trimmed down to a slender 8 1/2 lbs and had a cute little waist for such a senior girl that she was.
Cricket will always hold a special place in my heart. She suffered in silence for 8 long years in a puppy mill and then spent the next almost 8 years being pampered like a queen in our family. I know that my little "Crickey" will be waiting for me someday when its my turn to cross the Rainbow Bridge.
Thanks for taking a few minutes to share my memories of Cricket, proof that big things do come in small packages!
Boni and the Doberkids - Abby & Cyrus and foster Gretchen, and the MinPins - Dancer & Tink
(Waiting for us on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge are Buster, Betsy, Kiva, Basco and Cricket)
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