Lucky Dogs!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Yesterday, I woke up to the news that Rudy had died.  Rudy was a dog I wrote a blog about and he touched many of our hearts. 

http://www.doodlekisses.com/profiles/blogs/rudy

His owners decided they wanted to travel after their kids had moved out and no longer wanted Rudy and at the age of six he lost the only home he had ever known.  So many of us could not understand how traveling anywhere could be more important than our dog. Luckily, he ended up with the DRC and his foster parents became foster failures when they adopted him.  All this has happened when I have been thinking a lot about the misfortunes of some dogs and the luck of others.  Every day when I get on Facebook, I see many posts about dogs that have ended up in neglectful situations, lost dogs, chained dogs, or dogs that need our help.  Some days it is enough to make me want to close up my computer and go back to bed.  You can’t even escape it on TV because throughout the day they play that heartbreaking ad for the ASPCA and the faces of those animals almost makes me cry.  As soon as I hear the music that goes along with that commercial, I want to flip the channel and avoid the feeling it gives me every single time. 

 

I had to drop Fudge off at the vet on Tuesday at 8 am. She had her teeth cleaned and I wanted to get something that has been bothering her on the left side of her mouth checked out. I didn’t get to pick her up until 6-8 pm.  I haven’t had to leave Fudge at the vet since she was spayed and to say neither or us were happy would be an understatement.  She didn’t want to go back with the vet tech and kept looking back at me to let me know that she never expected this from me and I left feeling sad and guilty.  The good news for Fudge was I went back to pick her up.  In fact, Vern and I felt a little lost all day without her.  I was surprised how much I missed her wacko energy on our walk and Vern walked along with less spring in his step.  We didn't like being the Two Musketeers and Laurie and Vern doesn't sound nearly as good to our ears as Laurie, Fudge, and Vern. Now, I know in my head that this was really no big deal and I wasn’t sending her off to college and going to get back a dog at school breaks that insisted she was grown up now and curfews were a thing of the past. I remember when Megan left for college and John and I walked around for days feeling like someone had died.  I cried when Megan left and cried even more when I went into her room and looked around at the mess she had left me to clean up. No, this wasn’t like that at all, it was just Fudge going in for a routine “tune up”, but I still missed her and couldn’t wait to go get her.    Fudge doesn’t know it, but she is one of the lucky ones, because I will always go back for her.

 

Monday night, before the teeth cleaning, I was talking to Vern while making dinner. He was sitting there staring at me and silently pleading for a piece of cheese.  I couldn’t help but smile and when I said, “Vern, how did I get so lucky to get me a Vern?  I must have done something really great to end up with a big ol’ Vern,” he actually smiled back and wagged his tail.  I told him I felt the same way about Fudge. She was too busy sleeping to care about this revelation, but later when she got up to eat her dinner at 11:00 pm, she had no idea how relieved I was because I had been staying up hoping she ate before I had to pull her food and water dish at midnight. The thought of her being hungry all night and at the vet’s did not sit well with me.  Vern got up that night and the only reason I know that was because I vaguely remember hearing John tell him he was a pain in the posterior and hearing Vern’s tail thump in agreement.  Many nights while John is reading his Kindle in bed I will hear him laugh as Vern nudges him with his nose to let him know he is there.  Vern has a real need to know we are there and often just stops by our room to make sure.  Sometimes, he will just find you throughout the day and if I stop what I am doing and sit on the couch with him, he almost always puts his paw around me to say thanks. I consider this to be one of those times I need to “stop and smell the roses,” or in Vern’s case, “stop and smell Vern.”  Vern really doesn’t know how lucky he is that we find all of his traits so endearing, even at 1 am.

 

For the most part, all of our dogs on DK got lucky and I think that is another thing this website gives all of us…a place to come where other dog lovers “get it” when we talk about the goofy things we do for our dogs.  Most of us were horrified that Rudy’s original owners were so selfish, but in the end, Rudy got lucky, too.  He died knowing how it is supposed to be for our dogs. My own mother says I have a screw loose when it comes to my dogs and when she tells me that, I probably confirm her opinion when I pretend to talk like Fudge and Vern and say, “grandma is dumb.” I also want to say that some dogs get very lucky because of the rescue organizations and the people involved who work tirelessly to save dogs, when others of us just want to look away from the TV commercials and the FB entries and hug our own dogs. Not all dogs get lucky the first time around or maybe ever, but I am thankful for the ones who get a second chance, just like Rudy. RIP, sweet boy, and know that I will be making a donation to animal rescue in your honor.  I urge all of you to do the same. Happy Holidays to those of you who make your own dog lucky every single day!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thank you, Nancy and Janie!

Suzanne, I love that...pre-owned. Thank you!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thank you for your beautiful tribute to Rudy, and for reminding me how lucky we all are to have such wonderful dogs to love us.  I am so glad that Rudy got to be part of a truly loving family.  RIP dear Rudy.

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

What a beautiful tribute to Rudy, I am so glad he had the chance to be a lucky one. Wonderful blog Laurie.

[Suzanne & Jack]

Well said. We are the fortunate ones. We understand the joy and unconditional love that we get from our dogs. My DH often say we treat our dogs better than some people do their kids. We've had 3 pre-owned dogs and each one was special. RIP Rudy.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Pat. I knew what you meant! I often speak one name and mean another :) Traveler got lucky, too!

Thanks, Kate! My mother would agree with you :)

Lisa, Awww...thank you. I know how much you love Daisy and I think that is wonderful! I know just what you mean about all the joy these dogs bring us!

Robin, I like that we are all a little crazy about our dogs! Thank you!!

Thank you, DJ!

Lonnie, Libby Lu got very lucky, too!! She is such a special dog!! Thank you!

Jeanne, I had better follow you over there! LOL

[Pat and Traveler]

Yikes!  I posted once, having misread and thought Vern was at the vet!  Anyhow, so glad both of these lucky dogs are home and healthy and so well-loved.  Dear Rudy--I didn't know he'd passed away.  He did end up being one of the lucky ones, and I can remember how happy the story of his second chance made me.

I love how Vern puts his paw around you when you sit on the couch.  So endearing! 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

We are all very lucky to have our doodles....sometimes Mike and I laugh out loud at all the endearing comments we make about Daisy every moment of the day. She brings us such joy. I am sure (by some of the comments made by a certain offspring) that people think we are crazy. I really don't care because I also get the "I want to come back as your dog in my next life".
As I sit here and write I am also listening to Mike loving up our girl and it makes me smile.

Laurie, I want to come back as your dog in my next life ;-)

[Robin and Libby Louise]

Just when I thought I could put the Kleenex away........

Lovely tribute to Rudy and all the doodles (and non-doodles) we love so much.  I know everytime I leave Libby I make sure to tell her I'm coming back, her mom does the same.  I keep thinking about the three little bears story that was posted to let us all know that Rudy had found his forever home - that's a very bright memory for me.  And I will keep thinking of him on the boat, as well.

I'm just so glad there are so many who are so devoted to their dogs, and to helping less fortunate dogs find some happiness.  If that's crazy, so be it!

[DJ & Chance]

Laurie, you have a wonderful, loving heart.  This blog is great.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Laurie, you have our hearts and this blog is so beautiful.  I was so sad to read of Rudy passing away, but know now he is out of pain and his seizures are gone.  I too wonder how we were so fortunate to get Libby and all the love she has brought to us.  Laurie, I have seperation anxiety when Libby just goes to the groomer and I know she is safe and happy while she is there!!  When we pick her up, it is like a reunion of not seeing her for years.  These babies are just so easy to love and it is hard to believe anyone would let go of them for any reason.