About seven years ago I got a call that two minpins (miniature pinschers) were going to be taken to the shelter unless I stepped in to take them. From the conversation I had with the temporary guardian of these two, I knew their outlook for adoption from the shelter was slim. So, I went and got them. They became Bitsy (black & tan female) and Tubby (red male). Their elderly owner had died and none of her family would take them. That is one of the saddest reasons dogs are surrendered. It was obvious the woman loved them, this little married couple had not lacked in groceries.

As it happened, my intentions of rehabbing and placing them into a new home didn’t come to be. Tubby was the sweetest pin ever but people had a hard time overlooking his obesity. Bitsy had lots of people who wanted her because she was tiny (only 5 pounds once she finished her diet) but she didn’t want any of them. They settled into life at our house and never lost their love for one another. Tubby never lost his love of Twinkies, either, but he did lose all the extra weight. He basically lost an entire dog. He came to us weighing 23 pounds! We maintained him at a svelte 14 pounds for the remainder of his life.

We lost Bitsy last year after she developed a hernia in her rectum. It was decided she was not a candidate for surgery so we released her from her obvious pain. Tubby muddled along on his own but for all his years with us he battled health issues due from being obese. He had heart disease and became riddled with arthritis in his pigeon-toed feet. There was a definite change in his appearance this last year. He never demanded much other than a secret bite of something tasty when I wasn’t looking. He did the patented Tubby Flop when he found his spot on the couch. He often winked at us coyly and we know he was truly happy to have landed here for his senior years. He’s the only red pin we’ve ever loved – look at that face.

Tubby and Bitsy are together again now at The Rainbow Bridge. His death was not completely unexpected but we weren’t prepared for it to be last night. He was a month shy of turning 16. Scottie and I both held him and kissed him as he left our world for the next. We reminded him that he was a good boy and we were blessed to have known both him and his beloved wife. We urged him to find his former owner and let her know we were glad to have kept him safe until they could be reunited. He is already missed. RIP our special red boy.