Remembering Nala

by Jessica Bennett
(San Diego, CA)

When I was 4 years old, my parents decided to get me a puppy. Nala was the runt of her litter. She was a Brittany spaniel. She brought joy and happiness that any child at that age should experience.

I loved to take her on walks around my block. She never did like to play ball, but she did like to sleep. Nala was a calm mellow dog who never barked at anyone or anything. Everyday when I came home from school she would be at the door waiting excitedly.

Nala always brought a smile to my face just by the sight of her. My neighbors had got her sister, Malibu, and they would always bring her over, sisters excited to see one another, would always play for hours on end.

My parents divorced when I was seven. I left with my mom. I had to leave my beloved pet behind. It was sad and very emotional for me. Every weekend I would go to my dad's house just to see her. I wished and longed to see her every day. When my mom and I were able to get a place that accepted pets, by then Nala was 9 years old. I could tell that because of her breed and age, it was effecting her.

Nala had hip dsplasia, as well as a heart murmur. She slowly began to not be able to climb up and down the staircase that was in the household. I remember coming home one day, and Nala did not greet me at the door. I found her lying on her bed with a sad look in her eyes, as well as pain.


I knew then that she was ready to go on to a better place and that nothing else would be possible to ease her pain. On a follow up vet appointment we brought Nala in, and my mother and I made the decision it was time to put her to rest.

I watched as Nala went into an eternal rest at peace. I was thirteen years old and knew then that my dog was in a better place and that she was pain free and young again.