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!

[GBK]

Wonderful blog dedication to Rudy and the lucky dogs and owners on DK.

Just the other night Buddy threw himself over my legs, looked me straight in the eyes and panted in my face with a big smile and a wagging tail.  Kona was all scrunched up next to me and he did not want to be left out.  I looked into that big fuzzy face and thought how lucky am I and that I never want it to end.  They are the loves of my life, and yes most people do not understand the depths of our feelings for these crazy doodles.  That is their loss....  I too am so grateful to have a safe place to come where all the rest of you are as "crazy" as I am and we can talk all day about all doodle things.  I'm also grateful that my DH "get's it".  He is as crazy in love with our two doods as I am :)

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

And I am HONORED and PROUD that my human child loves Peri & Taquito so much, that "woof woof" was truly her 3rd word.  After mama, dada...then came WOOF WOOF.  Gosh I am lucky to have my two favorite pooches!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I agree Laurie.  I am so thankful Rudy left this earth living the good life - riding in boats, sleeping with his family, etc... Those are the memories he is thinking of right now up in Rainbow Ridge. 

I will be hugging my spoiled rotten, wonderful dogs tonight. And my family.  I am so lucky to have my loved ones around me!

[Camilla and Darwin]

I'm so sorry to hear about Rudy, I'm glad he died with people who cared about him. You are right, many dogs don't have that. Darwin is lucky, and we are luckier, because he's the most amazing dog and brings us and everyone he meets so much joy. 

I loved this blog!

[Leslie and Halas]

Great blog.  I remembered Rudy's story, too.  I was so sad to hear of his passing, but it's comforting to know that his last months were with a loving family.  My mom and I lost a very good friend late last week, and Halas has been doing his best since then to make me laugh and smile.  I agree that I'm as lucky to have Halas as he is to have me.

[Donna K & Quincy]

I am just sad that Rudy didn't get longer to live the good life and wallow in that love. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Laurie, I thought of you when I heard that Rudy had died, and I knew how sad you would be. What a beautiful way you found to honor his memory here. (Also to make me cry again, but you made up for that with the part about Vern thumping his tail in agreement.) 

Here on DK, the dogs are lucky and the people are lucky, too. When you are the one with the sick dog, knowing that you have the full power of your DK friends' thoughts, prayers, advice and support behind you is a wondrous gift, and often the only thing that keeps you going. Trust me on that one, and may you never have to experience it first-hand. :)

Last night, while I was reading in bed, JD decided to lie across my legs and fall asleep there. It's something he rarely does, and it always makes me happy that he wants to be close to me, even though it makes my feet get numb. Last night they could have turned blue, and I still wouldn't have disturbed him for anything. I know every single person reading this "gets" that.

RIP, Rudy. I'm glad you finally had the chance to be one of the lucky ones. :) 

[Jeanne, Tura and Dolly]

I was so happy to hear that Rudy had finally found a home and am relieved he died surrounded by love and not neglect. I just saw a story this morning about an animal rescue that was trying to get a severely ill and malnourished dog away from its owner who was keeping this poor guy outside, chained up. The owner had him put down before anyone could rescue him. It just made me sick.
We stay home a lot and I am with my pups almost all the time. They follow me around the house and alert me to incoming danger....usually squirrels. This past weekend we had to drive into the city two days in a row and be gone for hours. I know the dogs just sit at the window and wait. I worry that they are worried. My DH thinks I'm nuts but I know you guys get it. We love our dogs and that is the truth. RIP Rudy.

[BG and Gavin]

It was with great sadness that I learned about Rudy's passing.  As you said, at least he got to know true love before crossing the bridge.  I think I would give up a limb before giving up Gavin.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I was so sad when I read about Rudy originally and then happy that he found a wonderful home and then sad again when I read that he had died. I have that image of him on that boat and that's the one I like to keep in my mind of him. You are right, that for the most part all the dogs here are the lucky ones. It's so great that they don't know that they are lucky, just that they have good and happy lives. That is all we should expect for all dogs, sadly we all know that's not the case. This is the time of year when we are all bombarded by charities pulling at our heart strings. I like to think that all of the givers here will contribute in some small way to one of the animal welfare charities. PS. I am thankful that I have both my boys here at home now even though Boris's new massive crate is bang in the middle of the living room, but then again where else would it be?