Remembering Ann Troutman: Loving mother of doggies and daughters

I inherited my undying passion for dogs from my mom, Ann Troutman. Mom was always at ease when she was with her coveted pups. She had a glowing and captivating smile that always came out when she nuzzled her dogs. While she was a wonderful mother to her four human children, she often quipped that her canine "children" never talked back to her. During my teenage tiffs with mom, I wondered if she loved her dogs more than me. Funny how my boyfriend poses the same question to me now.

Mom grew up with a testy Dachshund named Suzie, who passed away when I was very young. Dad recalls mom cuddling and kissing Suzie during their early stay-at-home dates, so deterring him to go in for his own smooch. Mom's family also owned a Beagle, who I never met.

The first dog we owned as a family was a brindle Boxer named "Socks." Mom loved her first "smashed faced" dog, so passing that same taste in the canine profile on to me. Once, Socks bit my sister, Hannah, in a squabble for food, snagging my little sister's lip with a puppy tooth. In a rage, my grandfather attempted to choke the puppy. It was my mom who begged for Sock's mercy, ultimately saving the dog's life.

Many years later, after Socks passed, we adopted a red Boxer named Ellie. For many years, Ellie and mom were true companions. Mom stayed at home many years while we were away at school with only Ellie as her companion. Convinced she was a lap dog, the 50-pound Boxer would leap into my mother's lap, threatening to tip over her wheelchair. Mom never minded this, and gladly stroked Ellie's back. The two enjoyed sitting together by the fireplace in the winter, with Ellie sprawled across the ottoman beside Mom's feet.

Nearly two years ago, Mom's Mother's Day gift was a tiny black Dachshund pup. Little Lucy fit in the palm of my hand when she arrived. From her first day in my mom's house, she because the apple of mom's eye, reincarnating mom's childhood dog, Suzie. Lucy was the perfect dog to nestled down in mom's lap. Even at the height of mom's sickness, when she was only able to say a few words, she managed to utter "Sweet, sweet..." when Lucy scampered under mom's comforter for her morning greeting.

My mom passed away last Tuesday night after battling MS for more than 20 years. While we didn't always agree on other matters, we could always come together and talk about our love of dogs. Though she never enjoyed the pleasure of seeing her grandchildren, she was thrilled when I introduced her "granddog" to her last year.

I am grateful she shared her love for dogs with me, but this shared passion will be only one of the many ways I will remember her every day. Mom was a model of love and patience through her actions and words. She lived trusting God even through times of struggle and doubt. I always think of her grace, her wisdom, her faith in the Lord and her devotion to my father and her children, and strive to follow her model of living for the rest of my life.