Category Archives: Pet Portraits

As I write this blog post, Miss Sasha Pug sleeps and snores contentedly at my feet. She’s old–about 12–so that’s how she spends much of her day. She likes short walks around the neighborhood, to places like Urban Bean or Calhoun Pet Supply where she is admired and always gets a treat, but mostly she likes to watch the world from the comfort of her dog bed.

Sasha was my mother-in-law Helen’s dog, but sadly Helen passed away on Christmas night. She was 83, and she lived a remarkable life. She was a woman of deep faith who raised five sons and three grandsons and worked as a teacher for many years. When I think about her life and accomplishments, I can’t help but admire her inner strength, patience and kindness. Helen loved to read, and like my husband Ken, she was always on the lookout for an antique or collectible of value. Her lifelong undertaking, I think, was to provide and care for those who needed her, and for this I am forever grateful.

After spending so long at Helen’s side, Sasha has high expectations for her humans. In the three weeks she’s lived with us, we’ve discovered that Sasha requires a lot of attention and patience–more than I ever imagined a dog might need. I think she’s deaf, and I know she’s stubborn. But she’s also funny and adorable. She likes to sniff and snort, and every now and then, she’ll scamper around the room with a burst of energy. I love this dog, and I’m so happy that Sasha Pug has joined our household.