My Sweet Pea
I named her Bette, after Bette Davis, as a complement to Bogart. She was the best Christmas present I’ve ever received. Sometimes I called her Sweet Pea or Peeper. You’ve never met a more adorable, sweet, and perfect blond Cocker Spaniel puppy in all your life, I guarantee it.
Until the moment at Bo’s food bowl when a quick growl and nip left her eye hanging from the socket. The vet couldn’t save the eye. He suggested perhaps we should put her to sleep and get another puppy who wasn’t imperfect. Eighteen years later, when the time to put her to sleep finally came, I reminisced about her life and didn’t regret a single moment of having a one-eye dog. And it kind of made me chuckle to think she was named after an actress known for her “Bette Davis eyes.”
Seeing winter days
Bring us fun filled holidays
Pain oft’ in the mix
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It’s Haibun Monday at dVerse Poets Pub today and Victoria is asking us to consider the compelling world-view of Wabi-Sabi in our Haibuns. “Wabi-Sabi is the art of imperfection. It is the recognition that everything real is transient and imperfect. It recognizes the circle of life—that things die, break, disintegrate—and to find therein beauty.” I almost wrote about my current one-eyed dog Roman, but I’ve written about him quite a bit. So I decided to relate a true story from over 30 years ago wherein I learned that there is nothing wrong with a little imperfection.
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I am glad you kept the imperfect puppy and became even better as a result.
Thanks. Me, too.
Wonderful tribute to your Bette. I’m smiling thinking of all the wonderful things she saw during her life with you. Perhaps she had a better perception of what was real in our world than we do with two eyes? No doubt, she always felt loved. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks. She definitely was loved.
I can tell! 🙂
Great Haibun. Good story bout the one eyed Dawg.
Thanks.
You obviously did the right thing to keep her. Well done. My cat has no teeth and she’s getting along fine – even brings in a baby mouse now and then!
Animals are truly amazing!
Bette sounds gorgeous, Linda. It is sad how she came to lose her eye but animals always manage. I can’#t believe what the vet suggested – how can any animal be imperfect? A very good friend of mine had a dachshund called Goliath whose eye was kicked out in the womb .He was a stalwart little fellow, very loving and cheerful.
Thanks. I’ve come to believe one-eyed dogs are the best.
I’m glad you got to enjoy her for so long. Interesting about the Bette Davis eyes.
Eighteen years is a mighty long time to have a little Cocker Spaniel. The Bette Davis eye probably helped her to see danger of Bogart more carefully. I don’t think animals lose their will to live like we do over lost limbs and eyes.
She was only 7 weeks old when this happened, and she let Bo know she didn’t appreciate it for the remainder of his life. 😉
What a heartless vet! I cannot believe any animal doctor would suggest such a thing. Every dog is perfect in my less-than-Bette Davis eyes.
Good for you.
We were a little shocked, too. But I think he was just giving us options. As soon as we said no, he dropped it and went ahead and treated her the best he could. He was actually a pretty nice vet.
I am glad to hear that.
What a stupid vet. She was perfectly imperfect and loving. I’m so glad you all had each other. Beautiful haibun and sweet haiku.
Thanks. Me, too. Although I truly love my Roman, Bette will always hold a special place in my heart.
Beautiful. How wise of you not to listen to that ridiculous suggestion. I mean, really, who among us is not a one-eyed dog? Thanks for sharing your memories of your wonderful pup.
I love that! Who among us is not a one-eye dog, indeed. 😉
Uplifting personal share Linda ~ I am glad you gave her a chance and had wonderful memories and adventures together ~
When I was a child, we had a one-eyed dog. I hadn’t thought of her in years. Thank you for sparking the memory!
I have another one-eye dog now. They are so sweet and not a bit less-than for missing an eye. I’m glad to have sparked a good memory of your old dog.
Wanting to put a puppy to sleep because she’d lost an eye???? What kind of a heartless vet was that? I’m so glad you didn’t listen 🙂
Bette sounds like an angel and I am so glad you had so many happy years together. Eighteen is a fabulous age for a dog and this makes it extra special xxx
She was a sweetie, indeed. Of course, she set the bar high and now I expect every dog I have to live that long. 🙂
:o) xxx
I’m so glad you gave her a chance and I’m sure she paid you back in full. And the irony of Bette Davis’ eyes–that’s the first thing I think of when I hear her mentioned.
I’m glad we did, too. I miss her still but was blessed to have her for so long.