Dr Kelly Fleming

What is good about having a pet?

Dogs have always been a part of my life. We had our family dog, Lucky, for 13 years from the time I was 3 until I was 16 years old.

As an adult, I’ve had three service dogs. All standard poodles.

My boys were always by my side 24/7.

The hardest thing is that all my boys have had Addison’s Disease.

I lost Cooper, one month after his 8th birthday. He was my sidekick for 6 years. He always reminded me of a wise old man.

I lost Emmett when he was 4.5 years old. He was only with me for 2.5 years. He was such a clown.

Dayton has been with me for 11 years. He’s 13 years old. He’s been through so much with me. I always have said God has a sense of humour. He sent me Cooper and said “yep, she can handle him”. Then He sent me Emmett and said “she’s doing a good job with this little guy”. Then He sent me Dayton who has part of Cooper’s and Emmett’s personality and an extra special uniqueness that makes him Dayton. His personality has brought smiles to everyone he has met.

I was diagnosed breast cancer a year after I got Dayton, aka Junior. He was what made things bearable through those 4 years.

As my readers know, my grandma passed away during my second year of my battle and Dayton kept giving me a reason to go on.

The following year, my Mum passed away and Dayton gave me so much strength during that time.

I’ve had many hospital visits over the past 11 years and he’s always been there in the hospital with me. In the ER, he would get up on the gurney and help me feel safe.

When my Dad passed away in 2020, Dayton kept me going. He gave me a reason to get up every day.

I had a mental breakdown the following year and Dayton was my reason for being here. His unconditional love was my strength.

When I got covid in 2022, he stayed by my side the entire time I recovered, only leaving my bedside to eat, drink and do his necessities.

His unconditional love has been unwavering.

Now, my unconditional love for my sweet boy is my gift to him as he’s struggling in his last days with me.

He’s always brought a smile to my face and he’s my pride and joy.

I know I have to let him go over the Rainbow Bridge to be with his brothers he’s not yet met. His love will live on in me forever. His energy, his excitement, his sweetness. All these things and more I’ll carry with me. The next week will be the hardest time for me, with the exception of losing my parents.

I lost Cooper and Emmett unexpectedly when they went into Addisonian crisis. They passed so quickly, within hours.

I’m so grateful to have had 11 loving years with Dayton.

I’ve loved all my boys equally and I have mourned their loss so deeply.

Now I know that I am losing Dayton. My tears come as I think about it but when I hold him and give him his neck rubs and his sweet spots behind his ears, when I watch him sleep, my love for him swells my heart.

I have always loved him unconditionally but the love he’s given me is greater than I could ever reciprocate.

I know that he knows his time with me is coming to an end. He curls up on the couch beside me during the day and on the floor at night when he can’t get up on the couch.

He sleeps side by side with me and warms my bed before I get in it.

He’s the light of my life and my heart will break when he leaves me in the next week or so but I’m so grateful for all the gifts he’s given me.

My boys have been a shining light of love in my life over the past 21 years.

I cherish every memory of them all.

Writing this through tears and smiles makes me feel so much love. But they all have given me so much more.