Processing

Today was a hard day for the Lewis family. Chunky, the K-9 member of my family for the past 14 years, had to be put down. He was an exemplary dog. My dad often joked about cloning him because he was the perfect companion. I am processing but it is hard to believe he is gone.

I was 12 when we got him and have lived more of my life with him than without him. We got him after I BEGGED my parents. One of my friend's dogs had puppies and I HAD to have him. He was the fattest (and cutest) of the litter so they named him "Chunky." We kept the name because my dad liked it and I was so shocked that he actually agreed to let us have a dog that I didn't argue.


I tried to find a picture of Chunky as a puppy but this is the earliest picture I could find. We got him in '95, long before digital cameras, so finding a picture took some time. Sorry for the poor quality. I love the picture though because I see his personality in it.

My tribute to my first puppy:
Thank you Chunky for freeing me of my fear of dogs. I was scared of you (traumatic experience when I was three... tell you about it some other time) when we first met but your faithful, lovable personality soon won me over to K-9 kind. Thank you for giving my dad a reason to get out of the house every morning and for going on so many walks. Thank you for your insatiable curiosity, I know my dad thoroughly enjoyed walking with you. Thank you for always comforting me when I had a bad day. Thank you for giving my parents something to do while they were empty nesters. You kept them sane. Thank you for sleeping with me when my parents were out of town. I would have been scared without you. Thank you for your constant companionship, love, joy, playfulness, desire to be the center of attention, protection and faithfulness. You will be dearly missed.