Cago the Doggo
I'm 15 years old and I get a call in the middle of the night from Mom saying she found a dog in the middle of the road. I think she's messing with me and say "haha, very funny" little did I know, our lives were going to change forever. From the very first night you lit up the house with your tail, something uncommon and strange to us, and most importantly you put me and Anna to work. You laid in between us like you'd known us forever, just immediate trust, and you forced us to literally rub your belly until you fell asleep. I had no idea I'd be working 24/7 at the petting factory for the next eleven years... You never believed in those dumb labor laws...
At first we envisioned you as a valley girl from California on her vegan, no carb, dairy free diet but you were more a Chicago girl than we realized. You were bossy, you hit and made weird noises at people when you didn't get what you wanted when you wanted, even slammed your paws. You farted, you snored, you were our alarm for any danger, you LOVED takis despite never having eaten one because I would never give that to you, it's very bad..... and you loved to get in mud. It wasn't all just pretty clean girl stuff. You even thought you were a cat for a while, claimed my laundry basket and made it your bed. And you loved to play. Despite never quite figuring out how.. not for a lack of effort of trying though. You ripped up the Xbox cords, pillows, mom's camera, and doors of course. It had almost seemed like you figured it out with your chicken but you hid it from us and we'll never know why... Honestly it made sense though, Stitch never really played with toys either but she eventually taught you how to chase and run and boy did you two run that fence. There was nothing that made me more happy than to come home from school and join you and Stitch outside. Whether we were running around, laying on a blanket, or just sitting on the porch. You two washed away any problems I had that day in a rain of kisses and hugs.
I'll never forget the day Mom and I taught you how to speak. We sat at the dining room table for hours eating Chinese food (we could only give you the broccoli) barking, howling, and the most you would do is go "awUURuh". By far the strangest "bark" we've ever heard but the most unforgettable one. It was something we came to slightly regret later as you constantly used it against us to get what you wanted whether it was table food, dino bones or belly rubs. You'd slam a paw down, throw a side eye look and hit us with it. Honestly I think you just liked to argue sometimes. And an often forgotten fact is that you also learned how to eat off chopsticks that day. Very impressive.
And thank you for bringing some more light into my Stitch's life. You became her best friend and sister and you were always by her side when I couldn't be. And I think in turn you stayed by my side when she couldn't be. For eleven years we have shared a birth month and we'd always wear our matching tiaras and I'd even take you out to dunkin for a pup cup. You're blonde curly fur brought so much brightness into our lives, your tail brought rhythm and soul and your "bark" brought us joy and laughter. You brought me so much peace and solace just by being in your presence and laying next to you despite being put to work.
Ohana means family and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten. And I will never forget you. <3
Gabby