posted on July 13, 2001 02:31:29 AM
Thursday morning, I buried my dog.
I got him from one of those sidewalk adoption programs. All the puppies and cutey pies were getting snapped up. But this dog was house trained and I'm not very fond of babies of any species, so I took him. A little homely, and a little old. We suited each other.
He had been abandoned and lived in a kennel for three years when I got him. That first weekend, he behaved like such a gentleman. I bought a rubber squeaky rabbit, and he loved to fetch and play tug of war with it. That first Monday I had to leave him alone in my apartment, I hid anything he might chew, and instead of putting him in the kennel the adoption folks had given me, I let him just roam around the apt. He didn't let me down. There was no destruction whatsoever.
When I got him, his name was Andy, which I didn't really like. On one of our walks, he lifted his leg to pee, sort of almost fell over and peed on his foot. "Way to go, Einstein," was my response, and Einstein became his new name.
When I moved from Jersey to Washington state, he sat between me and my partner the entire way, and never caused us any grief. He stayed in motels with us and was a very polite guest.
The last couple of months were tough. Going blind, deaf as a post, and arthritic. Still, he liked to occasionally play with his bunny, and food still made him happy. And he loved it when we played the "towel game," - when he'd come in from the rain and I'd dry him off. He'd charge the towel like a bull and I'd dry him off and for some reason he got such a charge out of this.
Wednesday night, he looked anxious. He was panting, and even though it was a warm night, I knew something was different. I put his water dish near him so he wouldn't even have to walk into the kitchen to get it. I was up and down all night checking on him. He panted, but didn't seem in any pain. I checked on him at 3am, told him to try and get some rest, but I knew I was saying goodbye.
I woke at 630am. He was gone. I can see his grave from my kitchen window. He really was a good old dog.
posted on July 13, 2001 03:09:59 AM
Oh my goodness {{{{sadie}}}} I am so sorry for your loss. I am not a gushy person where animals are concerned but that was just about my undoing. It has brought back memories of one of our dogs. His name was Cobber and he was a big black dog, a cross between a cattle dog and a Rodeshion (sp?)Ridgeback and as gentle as a lamb. Cobber used to love going out in the big truck with my husband and running wild out in the bush, but he always knew when it was time to leave his playing and go home. We noticed that he was getting thin near his hind legs and his belly seemed to have grown really fast. He didn't make it out of the house for his toilet break one day and that was most unusual, he was the best and never made a mess anywhere. Another day he climbed up on to our bed and when I went in he just lifted his head and looked at me, like he was asking me for help. I knew that he was really sick and rang the vet, I took him straight down and they ran tests overnight. Our Cob never came home again. He was only 4 and he had cancer, the vet told us he could have operated but he only gave a 1% chance of survival and then no guarantee that he could get it all. The kindest thing for us to do was to have him put to sleep. That was also the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I took him home and my husband buried him in our garden, the kids' made a cross and said a prayer, they used to take flowers up to him everyday, and our other little dog used to go and sit beside the grave like he was guarding his big mate. It was all such a shock to us, because from when we first noticed that he was bloated in the stomach to when that fateful day came to take him to the vet, it was only 4 days and then he was gone.
I am sorry for you and your partners loss. These pets come into our life for a short time, but while they are here they make our lifes richer than they ever would have been.
I'm sorry to hear about your dog, but it sounds like he found the perfect companion in his life when you adopted him. You made an animal's life comfortable and happy after he had such a sad beginning.
posted on July 13, 2001 07:51:24 AM
sadie- you have my deepest condolences. i heard a rumor that there is a friendly, housebroken pooch in the humane society near you looking for a good home. Go for it!!!
posted on July 13, 2001 09:05:31 AM
Sadie, my condolences. Einstein was blessed to have you, and you he. Memories never go away and he will always be with you.
posted on July 15, 2001 11:56:27 PM
Sadie I thought your story was truly touching and a fine tribute to a wonderful dog. I'm sorry for my delay in replying to it, I was searching for the right words because I know one can never be totally in your shoes at a time of sadness. I'm sure you'll find it in your heart to adopt another Einstein someday when you're ready and you'll be rewarded all over again.
posted on July 16, 2001 06:53:55 AM
Thank you all for your kind words. For now I'll probably remain dog-free. Einstein was pretty easy to deal with, but a new dog would require more time and energy than I have right now. I'm sure one will find me. I've gotten two of my cats at yardsales, and one wandered up to my house. When I know for sure that I'm staying put for at least another year, I'm sure my truck will just lead me to the pound.
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