Pecan Sandy
On this day, September 7, 2024, Pecan Sandy, at the ripe age of 17, passed peacefully after a battle with kidney failure. During her years, she survived Granulomatous meningoencephalitis (GME) enduring 1 year of chemotherapy, heartworms, and living with us. A true survivor dog. Pecan Sandy was found as a stray in heat by William “PoHead” and Beth Peake on Laurens Court in Camden on a snowy February morning in 2009. Ham responded to the call to pick her up on his way to work in hopes to find her owner. Upon arrival, William handed her off to Ham in welding gloves, an indication of her demeanor. Later that afternoon Ham spoke of how cute she was, so while on an emergency, I tagged along as to catch a glimpse. Despite the warning on her cage, I immediately opened the cage, scooped her up, and held her in my arms. I said “ I think I’ll call her Pecan” and Ham added “how ‘bout “Pecan Sandy” a reference to her beautiful sandy blonde locks. And just like that she became my first dog. My father had passed just one month prior to our acquaintance with Pecan, and her arrival was just what I needed. She provided me comfort and love and laughter. In fact, she changed our life.
She loved eating Rush’s chicken, drinking sweet tea, riding in the gold cart, feeling the wind in her hair boating, warm sunshine, walking trails, hide and seek with bacon, laying by the fire, and most off all Gammy! Her motto was “Naptime Anytime”. During her stay on this Earth, she was there through many crucial and pivotal points in our life including opening our practice The Mill Village Veterinarian in 2011 for which she was somewhat of a mascot and therapy pet for many of the staff members who have worked over our 13 years…she gets the perfect attendance award as she never had a day off. In addition, she always kept her promises, as she in fact stayed with me all these years until my mom ( her beloved Gammy) passed in March.
One of my favorite lines is “But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world.” This is from the children’s book The Little Prince, where the fox tells the little boy that falls from the sky what happens when you fall in love. Whatever creature has caught your eye separates from the pack and becomes special, becomes yours, and the two of you are locked together forever. This is how Pecan with her blonde scruffy hair, crusty eyes, crooked tail, and gimpy leg went from one dog to our dog. You simply have to tame one another, and then you belong to each other for life, until you are forced to let go. ( a reference to an article I read by Steph Post). I’ll love you forever.
I want to especially thank Claudia, Fisher, Misty, and Kevin, who helped us so much with her critical care in her final days, to William and Beth Peake for bringing her into our lives, and to all the employees who gave her love over the years.