Dog's owner credits Kitty with saving her life

The year 2000 left me more bad memories than I like to remember, but the year had one thing: Our dog Kitty saved my life.

We bought Kitty at the flea market in Ladson. She was a small dog, about 14 pounds. She was a pretty little thing, and we soon learned she had not been behind the door when the brains were handed out.

Early in September, I woke up and found out I could not move a finger. I needed help, but my daughter slept way upstairs in the back of the house. I knew she wouldn't hear me. I hoped the dog would hear me. I know that dogs have better hearing than humans, so using my last bit of breath I started calling, "Here, Kitty, Kitty! Here, Kitty, Kitty!"

In what seemed like an hour but really was about a minute or two, I heard the dog thumping down the stairs. She flew up on the bed and started running up and down smelling me while I gasped, "Go get Tina! Go get Tina!" When she flew off the bed and headed back to the rear of the house, I wasn't sure whether she'd understood my cry for help or not. The next thing I remember was my daughter thumping down the stairs and running down the hall. By then I wasn't talking, just waving my hand, I think. Kitty was back, running up and down on the bed and trying to tell her something. Tina got the message and headed for the nearest phone. It didn't seem like more than a minute before the EMS arrived but I'm sure it was longer.

Kitty wasn't through yet. She got between me and the EMS and didn't want to let them take me. Tina had to take her in her lap and ensure her it was OK.

At the hospital, they said that Kitty's quick help got me there in time for that special shot they give for a stroke.

I'm in a wheelchair now, but I am alive and never a day goes by I don't thank her. She now sleeps in the middle of our king-size bed between Tina and me.

Betty Lee Johnson

North Charleston

Tiny

Tiny is the brightest spot in our house. She was 8 weeks old when we got her and was so tiny. We've had her for 1 1/2 years. Our grandchildren love to dress her in her little doggie-size clothes.

We get a laugh because when she sees somebody eating, she will sit on her backside and make sure she has eye contact so that she can get a bite.

Tiny was the last of six Chihuahuas. No one seemed to want her, but that's OK. As soon as we saw her, we loved her, and in an instant we knew she was going home. She has made our whole family a happy one.

John and Joyce Wilson

North Charleston

Lacey

Lacey is going on 12 years of age and she is my heart. Lacey was a wonderful birthday gift to me and I brought her home at the age of 3 1/2 weeks. At that time, I was going through a divorce ... so I latched on to Lacey with everything. I credit her love for getting me through that ordeal. It ended pleasantly, by the way!

Being 3 weeks old and my living in a No Pets Allowed apartment, there was only one option. She went to work with me daily. She ultimately went everywhere with me. At that time, I was a paint contractor for residential and commercial structures. Lacey can climb a scaffold, a ladder and she fearlessly runs across roofs if allowed. I just couldn't get her to use a paintbrush. (Tee-hee!)

Lacey has traveled up and down the Eastern Seaboard along with some travels to the Midwest.

She knows the rules of etiquette at hotels and obeys almost too well. The list of tricks are endless and too numerous to mention. She understands English perfectly and if "go" is mentioned, she'll be waiting in the car if at all possible. She has a hard time dealing with the fact that she's a dog and refuses to play with other dogs. We have two Yorkies now, and she plays and mothers them. She helped me house train them and she and my son grew up together. Lacy is a lady in a canine body.

Lacey is getting older and her energy level along with sight and hearing are diminishing. She has become the center of my life and continues to bring joy to my life.

She enjoys outdoor activities and has had some close calls. She's been run over by a four-wheeler and, on two occasions, a Chevy truck. She's also been thrown out of the bed of a truck and amazingly never had a broken bone. Ironically, she's pulled me down a sidewalk in pursuit of a feline in which I suffered worse than she ever did. Those were her puppy days. She now knows very well my rules, and chasing felines is not one of them.

I have two generations of her bloodline and love all of my animals. But there's never been nor ever will be another Lacey. They may have to lay me down with her if she ever leaves me. I think Lacey is more than worth mentioning. She's my life, my everything.

Melissa Goins

Jamestown

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