A Scarsdale Boot Camp Instructor And His Dog
My family got my sister and I a dog when I was 12. Her name was Lotto cuz she was almost put to sleep so we thought she was real lucky.
She was a little white bichon - super-cute.
What’s funny is that we almost got kicked out of our apt. building cuz they didn’t allow dogs. Long story but we won the fight and was able to keep her – she didn’t know how close we came to having to return her – she thought being adorable was enough LOL…
That little girl was my best friend. We used to sit just watching T.V. together…we ate at the same time a lot of nights (like she wouldn’t start eating until I did), she occasionally woke me up in the middle of the night to say “hi”, and when she was in the mood, she let me take a nap with her.
An all-around great pet…
The first like 9-10 years she was full of energy…
*happy all the time
*barked like crazy when the doorbell would ring
* had little spurts of running around everywhere wanting to play “you’re it” I guess
* a great appetite (too good)
* a wonderful demeaner
* gave love and felt love
then, in what seemed like a blink of an eye, I wasn’t 12 years old anymore…I was like 21 and my sister went from 7 to 16.
And like many kids our age, we got busy with hanging out with friends, relationships, partying and coming home late and sleeping late and so on….
I didn’t spend as much time with Lotto as I used to.
Sure I gave her a few pets on the head and kisses a day like after I got up, before I went out and when I came home, but the chasing and running around the house slowed down and I’ll admit we didn’t take her out as often as we should have for daily exercise.
As we were getting more active, stronger and more busy…our Lotto was getting a little older, a little slower and a little weaker.
I know what you’re thinking
Mitch…that’s what happens when pets or people age. My response is YES and NO.
The last 2 years of my pets life was not pleasant. She got diabetes from overeating and a lack of 
exercise.
Her diabetes caused her to go partially and then almost completely blind. She would walk into walls and it was sad.
And…no more barking when the doorbell would ring cuz she went almost completely deaf at the end. She would just sit on the pillow we had for her by the living room and just sleep a lot.
She was on medication and my dad even had to inject her daily (if I can remember correctly) to battle to diabetes.
At 14 years old we had to make the decision to end her suffering. She had trouble moving her back legs, stopped eating and drinking and the “kicker” was when she fell over on her side one evening in our living room and kinda just stayed there. It was awful…
I’m a peace with the death of my fluffy white best friend cuz she gave us many good years and memories but there are a few BIG LESSONS to be learned here…
We are not DOGS…we are human beings for heavens sake and…
1. We KNOW how important it is to MOVE and exercise
2. We KNOW how important it is to NOT overeat
3. We DON’T need to be walked by our parents, friends or owners. We have control over our lives
4. We UNDERSTAND that we MUST do everything in our power to counter-act the hands of time
5. We KNOW that we don’t need to be dependent on INJECTIONS and MEDICATIONS (although some people have the mindset that “that’s just the way it is”)
6. We all WANT to live not just for a long time but with a high QUALITY of life.
We don’t need to have a 2 year span at the end of our lives of discomfort – we just don’t.
TAKE HOME MESSAGES – MOVE and EAT WELL.
P.S. Thank you for everything Lotto – love ya 
P.P.S. I’d love to hear your comments below. Did you have or do you have a pet that teaches you anything about life?
Posted by Mitch | in Blog, Experiences | 1 Comment
