Princess Peanut

Note: This is not a hobby post, so feel free to skip to my next post. First and foremost this blog is for me, and right now this is what I need to write about.

In 2012 my then fiancée, now wife, was a cat person and I am not. I like all animals, I just don't feel the need to have a cat at home. So when she insisted on getting an animal, we agreed we a dog was a good compromise. So started our search through the rescues; and search we did. There were many different rescues, where we saw many different dogs. We wanted to help them all, but it had to be the right one for us and our living situation. We shared my grandmother's house after all. Then one visit it happened. We went there to meet a specific dog. The shelter, Last Chance Ranch, liked to send out groups of dogs at a time. So while we were trying to meet one dog, another sat next to me. 

A puppy playing with a leaf!

They called her Haley, but she was new to the shelter and they didn't know much about her. Maybe 6 to 9 months old? It didn't matter at that point, she had already picked us to be her humans, and we weren't about to say no. A few days later she came home, and everyone including Grandma Fish who we shared a home with, loved her. We renamed her Kaylee after a sweet character from one of our favorite tv shows. She's been called by many more names over the years: Kaypea, KP, Kaylee Pea, The princess, Peanut, Princess Peanut; but the most important was Family. 

KP was a browncoat after all!

We knew she was a tough dog, as she came with a tattoo. It was for animal control to know they had already spayed her, but it made my wife jealous the dog had one and she did not. It was only a few days after coming home that we noticed she ran funny. So we quickly took her to the vet, and an x-ray later we found out her leg-bone was dislocated from the hip socket. We were so worried, what would happen to our brand new baby? Luckily the surgeon told us she wouldn't suggest any surgery. A regiment of exercises would help her recover and form a new joint that would become just as strong as the original. These exercises are also the reason she insisted on jumping up on everyone who came in the door... or at least that's what we blamed. We didn't care, look at this face: 

Pet me! Pay attention!!

Kaylee was a love bug with not a single mean bone in her body. People say things about pit mixes, but KP would change any of their minds. She also had this sense about her. She knew you were sick and she needed to take care of you. She got us through so many difficult life events: My wife's diagnosis with Crohn's disease as well as a tumor, my wife's subsequent search for a new career path and a new direction in life having to quit her job she went to college for, my Grandma Fish's failing health and eventual passing, the passing of two of my wife's grandmothers, the near fatal car crash my father was in, a few divorces among close family and friends, and of course normal colds and other less traumatic life events.

I'll take care of you Mom.

She was also there through some of our happiest times: Weddings including my wife and I (twice - but that's a whole other story! LOL), the arrival of nieces and nephews, a house for our family to call our own, new careers, promotions, new vehicles (specifically to bring dogs for rides), family vacations (yes, the dogs come), and of course a dog sister. She's more or less became the designer of the house: removed carpeting (+dogs = yuck), put in a fence when she tore the bolt holding her tether out of the side of the garage, put in doggy doors to her height, created a doggy patio outside the dog door, turned the porch into a sun-room for her sun bathing times, added at least two dog beds per room, created an office which more or less is the dogs room at this point, among man other things. We can't walk around the house without seeing her influence on things.

New computer? Ok I lick it, it's ok.

A few years after moving my wife was trying to find her new post-diagnosis path in life. She decided she wanted to do more with animals (she now watches dogs for a living). One of those paths led her to find a new puppy she immediately fell in love with. There was no changing her mind, she had to have it. I couldn't tell her no with everything she's gone through, and so Harper came home. At first Kaylee didn't seem to know what to do with her... but they quickly became two peas in a pod. Everything Harper knows is from her sister. Except of course for her skittish nature... Kaylee had to be the brave big sister every time. 

What's this?

Twins!

We had some amazing years with these pups, and a ton of great memories. We took them everywhere we could. They were our kids after all! Of course it was a blast having them at home to keep us company though the whole pandemic. I couldn't imagine having less company through this unprecedented time. 

St. Patty's Day takeout, but still all dressed up!

At the start of this year we took them to visit family. It was nice after months going nowhere but home, work, and the store to finally see them all. We celebrated New Years with my wife's whole family and for a few days felt sort of normal. Then it all happened so fast. Kaylee, going on 9, had a seizure on the 10th. We took her to the emergency vet, where she had two more. They treated her, watched her overnight, and sent her home with some meds. For a few days, it seemed like we caught it. 

Where you been sister?

Thursday, as I was getting ready to leave work, my wife called and said Kaylee had another seizure. They were focal, so the vet wanted us to monitor how often. A few more that night and we rushed back to the hospital. They gave her an infusion that should break the cycle and help her. It didn't, so after a few calls we found an emergency vet with a neurologist on staff outside Philadelphia. We asked her if he wanted to go for a ride; they were her favorite and she got so excited. So we made the hour drive down the turnpike, only to see her get worse and worse as we went. Pulling into the parking lot, my wife called to tell them the situation, and nurse ran out and took Kaylee in her arms into the vet. 

They really loved each other.

The Neurologist rushed her into an MRI, but to everyone's dismay it was a very large tumor. They did their best, treating her with everything they knew. While there's obviously no cure, It was our job to give Kaylee every opportunity we could. Early Saturday morning she protected us from any difficult decisions and chose to pass quietly, peacefully, and most important comfortably wrapped up in some blankets. 

We chose to pick her up, and bring her back home as we're lucky enough to have an animal crematory in town. It was important to me to take her for one last ride since she loved them so much. Her remains are here now, and when it's a little nicer outside we'll lay them to rest in her favorite spot in the yard. That way, she'll be forever part of the home she helped build. 

Boy did she love to lay in the sun!

She was always there for us, no matter how bad things got. She loved us with everything she had, and we returned it in droves. Without her the house seems a bit more empty, and everywhere we look we see her. We won't change a thing though. This is the house KP built, and she would be mad if we didn't share it with more dogs. Time will heal our broken hearts, but we'll never forget the Kaylee pup. We love you, and we'll miss you peanut. Rest well, and give Grandma Fish lots of kisses for us. 

Princess Peanut on her throne.

If you read through all this, thank you. Kaylee was truly my best friend. Sharing memories of her is the first step towards healing this big old broken heart of mine. Next time we'll get back to miniatures. Kaylee always liked to hang out in the hobby area too!

KP in one of the gaming Sumo Sacs... aka "Big Dog Bed"