Empty Bowls

Monday evening we lost the last dog.

He had a massive seizure or stoke. It wasn’t the first seizure, he’d had a bad one in December 2019 but recovered. He’d had several smaller ones over the summer. Each was not a big deal but they’d been increasing in frequency if not severity.

Monday was massive.

He struggled to get up and couldn’t. It appeared that after the first big one, there were multiple smaller ones over the next 30 minutes & when I put him in the car, he just laid there quietly during the last car ride.

The emergency pet clinic was kind and efficient, and the pup went to sleep forever.

In the days since, the empty bowls, empty bed, & his favorite toy have been difficult to look at as they’re reminders of absence.

It’s not like this was a surprise. The old guy had been getting weaker and more restless, I think he wasn’t feeling well for a week or so. But he’d had bad weeks before and always bounced back. We figured he’d bounce back again, so we were watchful and tried to give him all the assistance he wanted or needed.

Sometimes we’d try to help and he’d flatly reject our intervention. He was a stubborn old guy and as his sight dimmed he’d get turned around, sometimes lost in the house. That ticked him off.

Time finally caught up with him.

Around here it’s been quiet and we’re grieving in our own ways.

This house has mostly been a two dog house, but Red was alone in his last years. Sundance passed about 3 years ago, as old as Red was, we decided to let him have peace & quiet rather than have to deal with a rambunctious younger dog.

The lockdown allowed us to spend his remaining time with him and he was rarely alone. One of his people was always around with a treat or a nuzzle or to help him if he needed it.

The lockdowns have produced a good side effect. Most of the shelters are empty. Many of the rescue organizations for various breeds aren’t too busy either. That’s a good thing, dogs are in homes that want them.

I worry that when the lockdowns end, people will find that they no longer have time for pets and the shelters will be overloaded. Lots of people don’t seem to understand that a dog is family and when the responsibility of having a dog becomes too much, they’ll toss the pooch aside never understanding that they’re breaking the dog’s heart.

I’ll choose a dog over people anytime. People often suck, dogs rarely do.

I told Red to go find Sundance. I hope they’re playing together in a green field where the Sun is warm butterflies are plentiful and the squirrels aren’t too obnoxious.

Here’s to you Red, your first years and home were rough, I hope the years you spent with us were good and you knew you were loved and will be missed.