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Dog Days
by Tricia
We got some sad news today - Scott has a cousin named Kari, and she and her husband, Eric, are dog people like us. We often talk to each other about our dogs at family gatherings, much like the other members of the family discuss their children. Our dogs ARE our children (yes, we fall into that creepy sect of people who take pictures with our dogs, buy birthday cakes for our canine pals and even take them with us in the car when there's no need for them to join us).
Right around Christmas, Kari and Eric found out that one of their dogs, Luke, had Lymphoma. It was heartbreaking to watch Kari as she told us about it and her eyes welled up with tears. Of all the people in that room, I think we were the only ones who could completely understand how devastating this news was.
Today Kari emailed me to let me know that Luke had passed away - his prognosis of having 2-3 months left had quickly turned into 2-3 weeks, and now he's gone. I sat here at my desk in my office and cried while I read her email. I know there are so many people in the world who think "It's just a dog. Get another one." These same people are the type who get a dog just to leave it outside all of the time, or adopt a cat specifically to let it roam the neighborhood. These animals are not a part of the family, and therefore have won the short end of the stick in life. They may get fed and watered and have room to run, but they don't form the relationship with their family that they need. Dogs need a pack to belong to, and it is cruel when they are left alone all the time.
I digress.
I can't imagine how hard the last few weeks have been for Kari and Eric, knowing that their little furry friend will soon be gone. It got me to thinking about how, as a dog owner, you enter into this relationship that you KNOW is not going to pan out in your favor in the end. You know that, chances are, you are going to outlive this wonderful creature. And yet, we do it anyway. The judgement is made, often fairly quickly and without hesitation, that the pain and sadness in the end is worth the long term happiness and unconditional love that having that animal in your life allows you. There is not much better than coming home and having Brodie rush to the door all smiles and wags, waiting to hear about our day. He'll dance around our feet as we fix dinner, hoping a scrap or two will fall his way. He knows when it's bedtime and takes up his resident spot where my feet should go, forcing me to sleep fetus-like in order to accommodate him. There are days when I am so happy to wake up and have him snuggled up in bed with me that I don't want to go to work, and must pry myself out of bed and away from his fuzzy face to shower and start the day.
There is this simplicty to loving a dog that is unequaled. This knowledge that, even if you forget to feed him, or punish him for digging in the garbage, he will come back to you and wag his tail and lick your hand and make you smile. This is why we endure the pain of losing our furry friends. A dog is a best friend who you don't understand, but who understands you, and that's all that matters.
In the end, all we have to comfort us is the knowledge that we made that animal's life happy, and he returned the favor tenfold.
Rest in peace, Luke. You'll be missed.
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RE: Dog Days
by 'ladytui'
Sat, Mar 15 2008, 10:47 PM
I've written to you in the past about Lady Tui. Our dog looks EXACTLY like Brodie except Brodie has a Beagle hind end while Lady Tui has a Labradore hind end. I had so dearly hoped to hear from you, but that's not what's important right now as I digress. I so very much feel for the loss of your canine companion family member. My precioussssssss (nickname from Lord Of The Rings) Lady Tui is at this very point in time kenneled at our vets office with an IV drip for kidney failure. She's not even 10 yet. I'm so irate with our vet as I took her to see him in November and told him that she wasn't eating the way she always ate. He said she hadn't lost any weight and that it wasn't anything serious. Any change in the habit of a beloved canine that is noticed can be a sign of looming trouble, and I will NOT ever again back down from my stance that I KNOW my dog. I am so tempted to have a chem panel done on my pets every six months just to make sure that one of the leading causes of death in canines and felines does not strike us again. We lost a dob/shep mix ten years ago (she was 16). For a year I gave this beloved baby of ours subcutaneous fluids to flush the toxins from her body. I'm ready to do it again, and it's hell. I'm recovering from sinus surgery (every sinus in my head was attacked on March 6). I feel for you, Tricia, from the post I read about your snot. If you ever face sinus surgery, contact me. I've been through three sinus surgeries since 1991, and I know the ins and outs of the whole mess. Just pray you don't get a staph infection as snot turns into large, hard, waxy chunks. I seriously digressed that time, but I have been hanging upside down trying to care for my precioussssssss as well as try to recuperate from my physical trauma. I'll walk through hot coals to take care of my kids. They are so very special and count me in as one of the extreme when it comes to believing they are a true blessing. Take care, get well, and give Brodie a kiss for me. He could be Tui's twin. I want my baby back! :(
RE: Dog Days
by Eric Rush
Fri, Feb 01 2008, 5:22 PM
Tricia,
I wanted to write and thank you for writing this. You have no idea how much better Kari and I felt after reading this and realizing how many people felt the same way we did. We still miss Luke very much, but are bolstered with all of the great memories we had with him.
Thanks again,
Eric
RE: Dog Days
by morgan
Sun, Jan 27 2008, 10:19 PM
This has been a long winter of dog loss. My Aunt's dog Rhi passed in December after a struggle with Cancer. She even did chemo and things were finally looking up before they quickly spiraled down.
And Gus-Gus had to be put down on Friday after 2 miserable days of Ann and Richard trying to keep him going. But he was a big dog who lived 10 good years and 1 not as good, but still much loved final year. I'll miss that guy.
My heart goes out to Kari and and Eric and all those who have lost their loving, furry children.
Tallulah's mom.
RE: Dog Days
by Stephanie
Sat, Jan 26 2008, 1:02 AM
I completely understand, and am glad you can write so well about such things. People should appreciate pets more...especially people who choose not to have them. They need to understand. Nothing upset me more about Hurricane Katrina than some of the pet stories I heard about it...I could barely read more than a couple. And I don't know if you've seen "I Am Legend", but there's a very painful part about a dog in that one too.
When I was in some summer college courses, I had to do some kind of creative writing assignment, and I wrote about our family's cat passing away. My teacher said he was not a cat person, but the essay made him nearly cry. I'm not trying to brag about writing skills, but fully believe pets are important deserving of our love...we are perhaps, not always deserving of their love in return, but they return it anyway!
Luke sounds like a very special and loved dog.
RE: Dog Days
by Anonymous
Wed, Jan 23 2008, 8:22 AM
Tricia,
How sweet of you to write this. I do think Kari is getting somewhat better- least the crying is not quite so bad on the phone. I know
Sobes is a wonderful companion for her right now and she, too, for him.
Time will help and thank, God, that He gives us the strength to go on at times like this.
Thanks for keeping her and Eric in your thoughts.
Give Brodie a great big hug and, oh yeah, give Scott a big one, too!!
Love AC
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