My Heart Dog, Sophie

Inspiration can come from so many places. One of my biggest inspirations is my heart dog, Sophie. She was nearly seventeen when she left us three years ago. But I still feel her every day. Every time I open the refrigerator door, I hear her little pitter patter and loud barks when she thought I wasn’t feeding her fast enough. When I’m on the couch, snuggled up in a blanket, I remember how she was always right there next to me. And when I look at Who, I see our gift to Sophie. When she needed a friend, Who came into our lives. Sophie was so proud when we introduced her to a tiny Who. It brought a spark back into her life.

Even though it’s been tough without her here, I know she lives on in my heart.

I am grateful for the many years we had together.  When we both needed someone, we found each other. A scared pup and a heart-broken me. Together, we no longer had to face the ups and downs of life alone. We had each other, and for a long time, that was enough.

Then, Steve came along. She wasn’t sure about him at first. It had been just her and me for so long. He quickly won her over, though. Years later we added Who Dey, or as I like to call her, Who. Our little family was perfect for us.

But it wasn’t without its trials. Sophie had a lot of health scares, more than I can count. She always pulled through, like a cat with nine lives. Even at the end, with doggy dementia, she lived for a year longer than expected. Even in the cloudy moments, she always found her way back to us. I joked that her will to stay with me was too strong to let her go.

I can look back now with happiness in my heart, knowing despite time, distance, and even death, she’s never far from me. Her big floppy ears—that were ten times too big for her little body—flapping as she chases me around the house. She is a reminder that resilience comes in all shapes and sizes.

So, when you see a character that is some variation of Sophie, whether it’s Sovie or a tiny dachshund pup, now you know why I honor her. My heart dog, with her tenacity, big love, and endless sense of wonder.

May you be like Sophie with a heart as big as the sky. 🩷