Karma the Pomeranian

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: dog pomeranian

Karma was born on September 5, 2007. She was a white Pomeranian. Melissa found her being sold outside a Walmart in Tacoma, Washington when she was barely 8 weeks old. They formed an extremely close bond right away, as they were both living in a stressful situation. When escaping this situation, Melissa took Karma with her across the country to North Carolina in 2009. After living there for less than a year, the two moved to Virginia to live with Melissa's sister, Shannon.

In 2013, Melissa and Karma moved into an apartment with then-boyfriend, Robert. The three were inseparable. Karma was always the type of dog to change minds about "small dogs" in general. People frequently noted that they did not like small dogs, but that Karma was different. She had so much love to give to anyone willing to accept it, but her bond with Melissa was unparalleled.

Karma in the Car, 2013

In 2014, Robert and Melissa introduced a new family member, Xena (a Persian cat) into the household. Karma and Xena were never really friends, but they respected one another's space.

IN 2017, Robert and Melissa moved to Japan, taking both Karma and Xena with them. It was a new experience for all involved, and definitely made Karma one of the most well-traveled dogs around. They thrived in their new country.

Karma and Xena, 2018

By 2019, Karma had been dealing with declining CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) for more than 3 years. She was happy and as healthy as could be expected even as far as November 2019.

Karma on a walk, 2019

In December of that year, she became lethargic, and stopped eating. She was taken to a veterinarian who noted that her creatinine levels had skyrocketed, placing her in late-stage CKD. She was admitted to Daktari Animal Hospital in Tokyo, where she stayed for over a week. They'd given her a feeding tube, stabalized her numbers, but she still wasn't eating. When she was discharged, Melissa and Robert were given instructions to continue tube-feeding at home, along with administering medications. Unfortunately, the efforts couldn't save her, and on January 4, 2020, she passed away in her sleep.

Happy Girl, December 2019, before she fell ill

The bond shared between Melissa and Karma was the strongest known to any family around them. Karma was cremated, and an urn sits on Melissa's bookshelf, next to her next, along with a photo, and her collar. She will be missed every day, and when Melissa one day passes, Karma's ashes will be buried together with Melissa's.

Karma's Urn

Karma, you will never be forgotten. <3 Love, mommy. - Melissa, 2020