Leo Makes Me Better

Leo is our dog.  Wendy and I have had dogs in our lives since we were first married.  I brought home our first two and we have had them as an important part of our family continually.  They have brought joy, love and excitement to our household.  

If I’m honest, all of our dogs have loved Wendy.  Even the dogs that started out as one of the kid’s dogs or mine eventually became Wendy’s.  She just has that touch and they all love her.  Most tolerate me, some put up with me only when she is gone.  Then we got Leo.  

Leo is our second Vizsla.  Emma was my running dog who became Wendy’s best buddy.  She was our first Vizsla.  Leo was a challenge when we first got him.  He was all puppy.  And, like Emma, he sleeps in the bed with us.  Leo was different.  Emma would curl up in a ball and sleep at the foot of the bed.  Leo has to lay close enough to touch you, always.  

I am not really a touchy type of person.  This took more adjustment than I care to admit.  He really liked to be close and knew no personal space boundaries.  I thought for sure he would just end up as Wendy’s dog, especially since he liked to be close.  But, it turns out, he loves us both.  He may be the most loving dog ever.

Leo has been through more than his share of challenges.  He was diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder after being almost completely paralyzed.  The prognosis wasn’t great but he powered through.  Most recently, he was diagnosed with cancer and had to have a limb removed.  Again, he powered through.  That’s incredible.  But that isn’t all that makes him so special.

What makes Leo so special is his ability to simply love.  He climbs up next to me, lays his head in my lap and simply enjoys my presence.  He lays as close to us as possible in the bed.  He sleeps a lot more now but never misses an opportunity to be right by our side.

Leo has changed me, slowly and with much resistance on my part.  He has shown me what unconditional love looks like.  He has forced me to crave his presence next to me.  He brightens my morning when I come in simply by the excited wagging of his tail.  And he never ceases to amaze me.  He just loves.  And I am grateful.  So, I’ll treasure the moments we have left.  And his love will always have an impact on me.  What a gift from God.