On the Passing of a Dear Furry Four Legged Sweetheart
For PENI z’l ( My son’s adorable toy poodle)
I still remember the first time I heard about PENI.
It was at the beginning of COVID when a young couple, both doctors, asked Jason if he would watch their little toy poodle for what was supposed to be just a few weeks. A few weeks turned into a few months, and even before I ever met her, I could hear in Jason’s voice how much he loved having PENI in his life. I remember thinking to myself that he was becoming so attached to her that it was going to be heartbreaking when her owners eventually wanted her back.
Then one day Jason called me.
“Guess what?” he said.
“What?” I asked.
“The couple is moving to Las Vegas, and they asked if I would keep PENI.”
He was absolutely ecstatic. I don’t think I had ever heard him so happy. From that moment on, PENI became the best thing that ever happened to him.
The first time I met PENI, she was so excited that she piddled. In fact, she did that many times whenever she saw me. I always thought it was one of the sweetest things about her. She was the most beautiful, happiest, most loving and charming little toy poodle you could ever imagine. She looked like she belonged on the cover of a calendar.
I loved the few times I was able to dog-sit her. I always spoiled her with a little real food instead of that awful dry kibble, and she was so happy to curl up next to me on the bed. She listened so well and was such an easy little dog to love. She and PUDGIE, my cat, even got along beautifully. Somewhere I have pictures of the two of them sitting side by side on my bed.
Everyone who met PENI fell in love with her. She was the sweetest, most affectionate little soul you could ever hope to hold, cuddle, and cherish.
The joy she brought Jason every single day was impossible to miss. Whether he was spending the day at home with her or simply walking through the apartment door after being away, the excitement they had seeing each other was pure love. Their bond was something very special, and everyone who knew them could see it.
I will miss PENI dearly, just as Jason, WiL, and everyone else who knew and loved her will. She brought so much happiness into so many lives.
As heartbreaking as it is to lose her, I truly believe she waited until Jason came home from his trip. And somehow, in her own way, I think she knew that Jason had found WiL, someone who would love him with the same devotion, loyalty, and unconditional love that she had always given him. It was as if she knew he would be okay and that it was finally time for her to let go.
Jason once said about my father after he died, that he was “an angel on earth.” I feel exactly the same way about PENI. She was an angel on earth, and now she is looking down on all of us with that same sweet spirit that made everyone who met her fall in love.
Run free, sweet PENI. You will always be loved, and you will never be forgotten.
The Author: Karen Lehmann is a writer and photogrpaher based in Washignton DC. This article however, is written as the grandmother of the most adorable little bundle of fur who passed away July 9, 2026.