In Loving Memory of Mitsy...
I’d like to share a little about someone who changed my life—someone who loved me without conditions, who taught me more than most humans ever have, and who left a mark on my heart that will never fade. Her name was Mitsy.
Mitsy came into my life when I was in Grade 7 or 8, and she stayed with me through some of the most challenging years of my life.
As a puppy, she looked like a little white polar bear with soft fur and what seemed like blue eyes that later turned brown.
She was gentle, kind, and so, so smart. Mitsy had this calm presence that made everyone around her feel at ease. She was kind to everyone, without exception.
I’ll never forget watching her win first place in obedience training—even as the only mixed-breed dog in a group full of purebreds.
My mom trained her, and Mitsy nailed it. One of the tests was staying perfectly still while my mom walked all the way to the other side of a field. Mitsy didn’t move until she was called. That was her: patient, composed, always steady.
When I came down with mono and had to be out of school for an entire year, Mitsy never left my side. She would lie next to me or curl up on me, quietly offering comfort. That year was hard—but her companionship helped carry me through it.
Even before then, I had tough days at school. I didn’t always feel like I fit in, and there were times when I just needed a break from the noise. Mitsy was always that break. Coming home and seeing her waiting for me at the door—tail wagging, eyes full of love—was everything. She was my safe place. No judgment. No questions. Just love. The kind of love that simply says, “I’m here."
Looking back, I see Mitsy as more than a pet. She was a teacher. A master, really. There was so much wisdom in her way of being. She lived with a quiet understanding that we are all connected. She didn’t need words to communicate that. You could feel it in the way she moved through the world, the way she sensed people’s energy, the way she loved without division. That kind of knowing is rare.
Mitsy left this world too soon, and not in a way anyone would wish. The truth is, her life ended because of someone else's cruelty—a neighbour who chose to poison her. I won't go into the details, but I do want to acknowledge it. Not to stir pain or anger, but because it's part of her story. It was a painful lesson for me in responsibility and karma. While I didn’t harm Mitsy directly, choices I made played a part in what happened.
That’s not easy to say, but it’s something I’ve come to terms with over the years. Mitsy’s death taught me that our actions ripple out in ways we can’t always see. ”
Looking back, I see Mitsy as more than a pet. She was a teacher. A master, really. There was so much wisdom in her way of being. She lived with a quiet understanding that we are all connected. She didn’t need words to communicate that. You could feel it in the way she moved through the world, the way she sensed people’s energy, the way she loved without division. That kind of knowing is rare.
Mitsy left this world too soon, and not in a way anyone would wish. The truth is, her life ended because of someone else's cruelty—a neighbour who chose to poison her. I won't go into the details, but I do want to acknowledge it. Not to stir pain or anger, but because it's part of her story. It was a painful lesson for me in responsibility and karma. While I didn’t harm Mitsy directly, choices I made played a part in what happened.
That’s not easy to say, but it’s something I’ve come to terms with over the years. Mitsy’s death taught me that our actions ripple out in ways we can’t always see.
But that’s not how I remember her. I remember Mitsy playing in the snow, chasing me around like we were both puppies. I remember the warmth of her beside me when I was sick. I remember the calm in her eyes, the wayshe looked at me like she saw straight into my soul and said, “You’re okay. You’re loved.”
I remember that Mitsy knew—knew we are all one, that life is about connection, not separation. That love is not earned, it’s given freely.
Mitsy was a once-in-a-lifetime companion. A gentle soul. A guide. And I carry her with me still.
Rest easy, Mitsy. Thank you for loving me the way you did. You were, and always will be, a master.
This tribute is In Loving Memory of Mitsy.
