Dani is a kind, gentle, very caring person, mixed with a great sense of humor and a deep well of knowledge on a wide variety of subjects. One of Dani's best attributes is his love of animals. All animals are deserving of Dani's love, and he owns several pets; cats, dogs, and even a sugar glider.
Dani's most beloved pet though was his dog, Indee.
I never had the privilege of actually meeting Indee, but have heard many wonderful stories about this happy little Corgi.
Stories of bravery, strength and always smiling, as in this photo from Dani's Facebook page, that's how Dani always spoke of Indee.
You see, Indee was handicapped. Though he couldn't run and play the way most dogs do, (his two hind legs didn't work), it never made him a sad puppy. No, he was always there, according to Dani, to help cheer Dani up on his bad days, and to add extra joy and happiness on his good days.
Despite his disabilities, Indee lived a long life, 13 years, spreading his infectious love and sweetness to all who knew him. Heck, he even spread it to those of us who never met him; I mean, how could anyone resist a smile like that?!
While other pets of Dani's came and went, leaving holes in Dani's heart at their loss, Indee was always there to help with his grieving.
But then this week came that awful day, that day when all the sunshine went out of Dani's world, that day when he'd be grieving the most, with no help of relieving his pain.
At 13 years old, Indee's paralysis had spread to his neck, and was seriously affecting important aspects of his quality of life. No one wants to see anyone, human, or animal, suffer, so after some deep soul searching, it was with a heavy heart, that Dani made the decision to have his precious fur baby put to sleep.
Knowing that Indee is no longer in pain; that he's in doggy heaven, running, and playing with all the other doggies, doesn't help with the pain of losing a best friend. I understand this, as do others who have lost a pet. And though Dani has many friends, who care about him, and his well being, we also know it will take some time for Dani to work through this loss.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, sometimes there aren't enough words, or the right words that can be said to help another in their time of need. Sometimes writing works better for the person trying to help someone. That's why I've written this post, because even though Dani knows I'm there for him, to listen, to give hugs, and to understand how he feels; this post is something *I* needed to do, for him, to let him know that I really do care.
Rest in peace Indee, and know that you'll never be forgotten, by Dani, and anyone else who's ever heard about you.
