Karma 10/03 - 2/18/09

It seems like yesterday that I drove to Georgetown, Texas to meet my little companion. She was a rescued cairn terrier. It was love at first sight. I took her to a large fenced area where potential adopters get to interact with pets. I carried her from her pen. Her coat was matted with dirt and embedded with more sticker burrs than I could count. The minute I put her down I fell in love. I stood in the middle of the area and she took off for the far corner at break neck speed. Just as it looked like she was going to run into the fence, she turned sharply headed back to me. I bent down to pick her up as she raced toward me. Turning just as she did when she neared the fence, she veered around me and headed for another corner. This routine continued for about 15 minutes. Eventually, she let me pick her up again. I reluctantly returned her to her pen as I went into the office to fill out the required paperwork and begin the long 3 day wait to see if I would be approved. I called on the appointed day and within minutes I was on my way. It was a perfect match from the start. Although she would have many nicknames over the next few years, officially her name was Karma Bene Jefferies. Karma because it fit us. Bene because she stood with her front feet in first position and Bene was a ballet mistress my daughters had worked with. She was super low maintenance (with the exception of an occasional accident. She helped me recover from back surgery as we took long walks together. All my friends and family, even my mother a confirmed anti-house pets person, fell in love with her.

Two years after Karma entered my life, I decided to move to New York. In early August we were preparing to leave for the airport when my daughter's neighbor's dog attacked her. The wounds required a few stitches but were not life threatening. However, she was not fit for travel and with a heavy heart I had to leave her behind. I knew that she was in good hands with Elyse, but I also knew I would be lonely without her. Two months after the move, Elsye sent her to me. What a fun day we had the day she arrived. Our first stop was the dog park at Union Square. I soon learned just how intimidated she was by other dogs. After leaving the park we stopped at a street vendor for lunch. Even a dog has to try a New York City hot dog from a street vendor. On to the apartment, a 5th floor walkup. It didn't take long for her to learn to race up and down the stairs. When I would ring in a visitor, Karma would run down the stairs to greet them. She was a favorite of the other dog owners in the dog park across the street, because she would fly into the nearest lap when the other dogs were playing chase. Before Erin moved to New York, Karma would stay with Mary Beth and her wonderful family. Karma loved them and Mary Beth had two male standard poodles. She even had them believing that she couldn't climb stairs and Marybeth's father would carry Karma upstairs to the bedroom each night.

Then came Alivia. She adored Karma and I believe the feeling was mutual. She couldn't leave Karma alone. Sometimes she would climb into Karma's bed and lay with her. During mealtimes I'm not sure which one of them ate more of Alivia's meals. Even when Alivia got a little rough, Karma never bit or snipped at her. Watching the two of them play gave us hours of laughter. I looked forward to watching their relationship grow and wondered how Karma would deal with it when Alivia and Erin eventually moved.

Yesterday my heart was broken. My beloved pet was taken in an accident that I will never really understand. The wound in my heart is still fresh and I know that the pain will ease with time. But as I am writing this I cannot see myself ever having another animal in my life. There could never be another match so perfect. I love you Karma, Carmel, Beard and I miss you terribly.