Otis

Oh Otis... our sweet one year old German Shepherd. He's been through just as much as we have in all this. In the beginning of it all, our son was so supportive and really took care of me and our daughter. I remember sitting on the back deck with my two babies and talking about life. Not bashing their father, but talking about our future. The three of us. My ex had removed everything from the house by this time that was his, including all of the firearms, except my sisters. In our conversation we were discussing about how safe we felt, which was nonexistent with our neighbors living beside us. To walk outside was nerve wracking. We had tossed around the idea of going to adopt a dog for protection and we just felt we all could use a little extra love.

Without discussing anything with me, my son texted me at midnight one night and said come to my truck, I have to show you what I got you, me and his sister. I go out, very reluctantly because if you know my son at all, you never know what his next move is going to be. I go to his truck and there is the sweetest little boy. A german shepherd for us to love. No food, no crate, just him. I spent that night with his little self sleeping on my head in my king size bed. He did so good, other than the fact he was quite literally on my head, all night. 

We went to the pet store the next day and got him all the things. My daughter fell head over heels for him. The sweetest little baby. Not much for protection then, but so much to love. This poor baby had so many names. My son named him Diesel and wanted to call him big D. We tried it out, but if you saw him then, the name didn't fit. He was the cutest little baby ever. He was a little clumsy and so silly. We had to find a name that worked. So we did lots and lots of research on german shepherd names when we finally ran across the name Otis. I instantly thought of the old drunk man from The Andy Griffith Show and it stuck. Our sweet protector, Otis.

My daughter became so attached to this dog. We went to get our hair done one of the first days we had him and my son wanted to keep him to get him a collar made while we were gone. Maybe 15 minutes into the appointment he was calling. "I can't do this. I'm bringing him to you." So here we are at the hair salon and with Otis.

He went everywhere with me and my daughter. If there ever was an emotional support animal, this was it. My daughter would text me from school to check on him. She canceled plans with her friends to see him. Her first true love was this puppy. 

The night my son chose to begin WW3 when I had to be a parent to him, on his way out the door he grabbed Otis. When the police arrived, they walked in the front door to see my daughter hysterically crying because Otis was gone. The one thing that made her happy in the midst of everything was taken from her. My ex showed up and was by the mailbox and the only words my daughter could get out of her mouth were, "Make him leave. I hate you!" That was the only night an officer did their job. I wish I knew his name, because he was amazing. He told me he didn't know everything going on yet, but one thing he could tell, was that the man out there had done something to this child to really hurt her and he made him leave. 

My son called my daughter about an hour later. We were sitting together on the back swing. I recorded the phone conversation and still go back and listen to it from time to time. Just like the recording I have from earlier that night where I asked him to leave if he wasn't going to listen and his father telling him he didn't have to because it was "his house." I have the recording of him pushing me down the stairs and hitting me with his girlfriend sitting there watching it all. He told my daughter on the phone after much arguing that he would bring Otis back because he couldn't handle him. He had fed him cat food and he had thrown up all over his girlfriend's car. 

My daughter didn't care about anything in that moment except getting her baby back. It was probably 2 am when he pulled up and the excitement my girl had was like a kid on Christmas morning. All was right in the world as long as those two had each other. 

This happened multiple times. He never actually got him again, but my son would threaten to take him over and over. Yes, my son had bought him for us, but my daughter and I took care of him. I remember being at my parents house on Thanksgiving morning and my son walked in. He was pro daddy by this time and that was fine. He is and will always be his dad and if he was doing for him, then by all means be happy with him. My daughter and I just wanted peace and quiet and unfortunately that was never an option during this time when him or my ex were involved. He walked in the door and the first words out of his mouth were, "Where is my dog. I want my dog." I didn't have time to think. The look of shear panic on my daughter's face told me everything I needed to do in that moment. So I lied. "He ran away." The only words I could say. And I didn't and still don't feel bad about it. My son had posted on his story asking who wants to buy a german shepherd. We both knew, he needed my daughter and she needed him. 

My son just said then I need my money for him. I agreed and we made arrangements for him to get the money he paid for him, plus a little extra. Otis was ours and he could never threaten to take him again. Or so we thought. 

I took my daughter and her friend to Florida for a vacation and the day they realized we were gone, we got pictures from inside our home and threats that Otis would be gone. We had made arrangements for a friend to come a couple times a day and take him out to play and feed him. I was over all of the threats and feelings of what are they going to do next. So I did what I felt I had to and called the cops. They might do something or we might get told to stop calling. I had to try. The police showed up to our house and checked everything out and said it was all clear and our baby was there. 

My son had messaged my daughter on instagram that day. I would share some words, but I don't even feel comfortable writing what he was saying it was so disgusting. To give you an idea, if you haven't already seen some posts and comments he makes about me and my daughter, one line is (copy and pasted) "F-ing moron see if the dogs there when u get back mfer." 

I don't completely blame him for the way he reacts and speaks. He was never taught how inappropriate it was. His father would laugh and join in when he was younger speaking to me that way, so what can you really say besides how sad it is. A mother can only do so much with raising a son that has no respect for authority, and I would have to choose between parenting and getting hit or things thrown at me or letting things slide. It really sucks as a parent to have to make those choices, but I did. 

I'm sure I will have more retaliation coming my way from writing this, but it's all part of my story. My truth. I'm supposedly on drugs and would go to my son for whatever drug that was. In all honesty, I wouldn't have went to him for a Dr. Pepper. Sad to say. And if you want to see it, I have a clean urinalysis report from when I was in the hospital about a month ago. Just ask.

The times me and Miley have with Otis are probably 97% the happiest times of our last couple years. We planned a trip to Savannah last December. Packed and ready, my daughter, Otis and I all hit the road. One of the best trips we have ever taken. This summer, my daughter, Otis and I all packed up again and hit the road to Orange Beach for a week. Again, one of the best trips ever. I still laugh at the thought of walking out of the gas station and seeing Otis in the drivers seat like he was waiting to drive us away. Or driving down the road and him putting his paw on my hand like he was holding my hand. Or him just laying his head on Mileys shoulder and sitting there as we drove down the road. 

I have never been an animal person. Kids always had my heart. But this dog y'all. I can't even begin to explain how special he is. Is it because my son got him for us at the perfect time and showed us love again? Is it because God made him for us for this time? Is it because of everything we had to endure to keep him? All I know is that my girl and Otis are meant to have each other. And just know, if she has to pick between you and that dog, he will always come first. Even over me.