Millie!: A Love Story

By Louis David Lavalle and Roseanne Lavalle

THIS IS MILLIE'S STORY.

Born late December 2004 in Stark City, Missouri, the smallest of a litter. Millie is a full-bred Yorkshire Terrier. She was just three months old when brought home from a pet store in New York City.

Lavalle reminds the reader that this is

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aspire Publishing Hub, LLC
• Release date: Nov 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9781962611060

Book preview

Millie! A Love Story

Copyright © 2023 by Louis David Lavalle & Roseanne Lavalle

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

ISBN

978-1-962611-05-3 (Paperback)

978-1-962611-06-0 (eBook)

978-1-962611-04-6 (Hardcover)

To my life partner, Roseanne.

This book is dedicated to you.

Your unwavering love and devotion to Millie

was instrumental in creating the most beautiful,

healthiest, happiest Yorkie on the planet.

Foreword

Family relationships are often characterized by a fragile balance of frustration, anger, contempt, commitment, and, of course, love. Unlike these incongruous human connec­tions, the uncompromising warmth and affection for a four­legged family member can be a singular demonstration of unconditional love.

The story of Millie and her impact on her human family is a poignant tale of unconditional love, commitment, and sacri­fice. I have known no other mother or father who holds a closer bond with their children than that exhibited by the author and his wife with their Yorkshire Terrier. And that affection has been returned tenfold by this beautiful tiny creature.

Millie is an inspiring tale of love that will bring a smile to the face of every reader.

–Peter Marmerstein

Preface

This book has a happy ending. Throughout the construc­tion of the manuscript, Millie has been very much alive, shrug­ging off the effects of two surgeries, some minor bacterial infections, and a long fight with blindness. Throughout the ups and downs, she hung in there, never giving up. It was I who couldn’t handle it well.

So, yes, the book has its tense moments and its sad moments, holding a mirror up to life, which throws us all a curve ball every so often. Just when our affairs are pressing us down a bit, Millie’s there and we have to smile. Most agree that a dog becomes part of the family. Yes, absolutely true. But what makes this story especially fascinating is how Millie wove her­self into the fabric of our lives.

So read on, and imagine yourself in my shoes, being fortu­nate to live every day with a loving, caring, and devoted dog.

The Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkshire Terriers are one of the most popular, most glamorous breeds in the United States. Originating in York­shire County, England, they were bred to hunt and pursue ver­min. Over the years, they became recognized for their unique, well-proportioned physical characteristics, glossy good looks, and keen intelligence. This makes them a natural choice for families in smaller homes, especially apartment dwellers.

Yorkies weigh between four and ten pounds and need to be looked after with care. They have small bodies with tiny bones and a compact structure. They are alert, inquisitive, cute, perky, and self-confident. And they are lap dogs.

The Yorkshire Terrier prefers constant companionship. They enjoy being with their personal humans as often as possi­ble—in the same room, the same car, even the same bed. Sit on your favorite chair or couch and your little gem will be at your side in a flash. But, because they are small and fragile, they must be thoughtfully supervised, and owners should be aware of their Yorkie’s surroundings at all times to protect them from injury.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Preface

The Yorkshire Terrier

Introduction

Chapter 1Roseanne’s Story

Chapter 2Coming Home

Chapter 3Our New Life with Millie

Chapter 4Training Millie

Chapter 5Second Thoughts

Chapter 6A Tortuous Decision

Chapter 7Katie

Chapter 8The Saddest Day

Chapter 9The Longest Walk of Her Life

Chapter 10The Pet Store

Chapter 11Feeling the Emptiness

Chapter 12The Pet Store, Reprise

Chapter 13Millie’s In There!

Chapter 14The Coffee Shop

Chapter 15A Phone Call at the Office

Chapter 16The Taxi Ride

Chapter 17Millie’s Back!

Chapter 18Settling In

Chapter 19Millie at the Office

Chapter 20Traveling with Millie

Chapter 21Dining with Millie

Chapter 22An Inborn Mystery

Chapter 23Millie in Milford

Chapter 24Veterinary Care

Chapter 25Leg Surgery Number One

Chapter 26Recuperating at Home

Chapter 27Thanksgiving Accident

Chapter 28Leg Surgery Number Two

Chapter 29Playtime

Chapter 30Florida

Chapter 31Something’s Not Right

Chapter 32A Painful Discovery

Chapter 33Cardiology

Chapter 34A Stranger’s Blessing

Chapter 35Living with Millie’s Blindness

Chapter 36Cataract Surgery

Chapter 37Heading Home Without Millie

Chapter 38The Hospital Calls

Chapter 39Another Night without Millie

Chapter 40Millie Can See!

Chapter 41Millie Endures Her Recovery

Chapter 42The Best Years of Our Lives

Acknowledgements

About the Authors

Writing the book

Review

Introduction

This is not a dog book.

It’s a book about one extraordinary dog.

This book is based on actual events that began in a pet store on Lexington Avenue in March of 2005. It’s a story about love and caring.

A full-bred Yorkshire Terrier, Millie was three months old when Roseanne brought her home. Born late December 2004, in Stark City, Missouri, Millie was the smallest puppy in her litter. Her breeder sold her to American Kennels in New York City.

The book follows her from the day she became a part of our family and changed our lives, filling our home with happi­ness. It threads its way through good times and fearful times. From the unexpected trauma, just five days after Roseanne brought her home, to—nearly fifteen years later—the horren­dous months after her battle with cataracts. Through it all, Mil­lie’s beauty, charm, affection, and bravery brought us closer as a family.

If there’s a dog in your home, you will undoubtedly under­stand the special bond owners develop with these beautiful creatures. In my opinion, one reason may be that dogs—or any household pet—are completely dependent on us. They trust us completely to provide for their well-being.

I cannot explain how we develop our unique love for pets or where it comes from. Maybe it’s because pet owners have what I would call a pet gene somewhere within their psyche. Not easy to explain. In our case, it simply evolved as Millie cast her spell over us virtually twenty-four hours a day. We willingly became imbued with her spirit, her unrelenting joyfulness.

There are literally hundreds of books that explain the do’s and don’ts of dog ownership. You won’t find that advice here. This book is a chronicle of Millie’s more than fifteen years with us. It relates firsthand how she brought so much love to her mom and dad’s life.

Each chapter is a window into Millie’s world. I hope they offer a clear vision into how it’s possible to love an animal as much as a human, if not more. If reading this book does that for you, then I consider it a grand success.

Follow Millie as she joins our family and grows up with us, spreading joy and love to everyone lucky enough to meet her.

CHAPTER 1

Roseanne’s Story

How much is that doggie in the window?

It was a stormy night in March. A cold wind sent speck­les of sleet pelting against my face. My workday was over and, as usual, I took the R train to the gym, getting off at 59th and Lexington. Typically, I would come up from the subway on the southeast corner, walk up Lexington to 63rd Street and the gym entrance. That night, somehow, I found myself emerging on the southwest corner. Not usually a big deal, but I would have to work my way to the east side through bumper-to-bumper traffic—yellow cabs, buses, cars, trucks, many of them heading over to cross the 59th Street bridge into Queens.

But as fate would have it, I never made it to the east side of the avenue that night. As I approached 62nd Street, I was detoured by a teeny tiny Yorkie pup that appeared to be star­ing at me from behind a pet-store window. I recall vaguely four Yorkies in that window, but only one caught my eye.

I entered the store and asked to see her. The staff, of course, jumped to fulfill my request, taking her out of the window, brushing off strands of paper that were clinging to her, and patting her coat down. She was a precious little thing full of spunk and personality. Black and platinum in color, she weighed in at one pound thirteen ounces. She fit right in the palm of my hand. Her ears, standing straight up, were a bit larger than typical Yorkie ears, adding to her cuteness. And she had a truly unique feature, an irresistible little freckle in her left eye. It was love at first sight.

I had been staring at puppies in those windows for many years, and then passing by. But this night was different. I’ll take her. I said. The clerk took her to the back room. He returned shortly only to tell me he was so sorry as she was already sold. My heart sank. The clerk figured he had a taker and showed me several other Yorkies, but I was not to be persuaded. It was that one or none.

As I started to walk toward the door, the clerk came run­ning back to me and said he had spoken in error. He said she was on hold for someone, but the timeframe for the hold had expired and that she was available. Done.

Into a paper-lined puppy box went my little straggly prin­cess along with a shopping bag full of every pet accessory under the sun, half of which we didn’t need, but no matter.

I was out again, into the cold, rain, wind, pelting sleet, bumper-to-bumper traffic. Passing by the gym where I was supposed to be, I excitedly carried the little princess to her new home.

CHAPTER 2

Coming Home

Beautiful things come in small packages

I opened the door and Roseanne was standing there, in the hallway, frozen in place, holding a small cardboard box, her gym bag and a shopping bag. She looked at me quizzically, questioningly, excitedly.

I bought a dog, Roseanne blurted out, swallowing hard, holding up the box in front of her so I could see.

What?

I bought a little Yorkie, she said, still in the hallway.

I took a step backwards, You’ve got to be kidding me, you bought a dog? I was like, what? Ro had been afraid of dogs for as long as I’d known her.

Stepping into the apartment, she pushed past me, all a flutter, holding the box by its handle, and an overflowing shopping bag stuffed with pet paraphernalia. The box had big round holes on all sides.

Wait till you see her, Lou! she exclaimed. "She’s the cut­est thing ever—just precious! Roseanne lowered the box care­fully to the floor, her coat still on.

Staring at the box in disbelief, I said, What? I mean how, why? There’s a dog in that box? Where did she come from?

Roseanne took a deep breath, more excited than I had seen her in a long time.

From the pet store near the subway at 59th Street. I always walk past that place on Lex; you know the one. I can’t help but look in the windows every time, and today I saw her there. Almost out of breath, she continued:

I walked in, pointed her out; they brought her to me, placed her in my arms, and that was it.

Just look at her! She opened the box and lifted the tiny pup out.

I knew the place. It had two big show windows on either side of the front door. There were always scores of tiny puppies on display—different breeds: Shih Tzus, Maltese, Havanese, Yorkies—running around, pressing their noses against the windows, playing with each other. Many