Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a dog guy. I don't know if one person will read this, or one million, but here it it.
This weekend marks the two year anniversary of putting my dog, Junior down. A quick backstory on him. It was January 6th, 2010, and all I wanted to do was come home from work and watch the 18 year olds World Hockey Junior championship that night. A kid on the team was a friend, plus, it's hockey! I got a text from my wife earlier in the day saying she had gotten me an early birthday present (two months early) and I was either going to love it, or hate it. I'll never forget walking into the house, and seeing this dopey dog staring back at me. Of course, I loved it. Team U.S.A. won, and hence, we named this dog we'd rescued. Junior.
I tear up as I type these words even two years later. Junior was a big dork. He protected the yard against those darn birds and rabbits. No neighbor was safe when he was around....ok, that not even close to true. He was a great dog/family member for 11 years. Oh, he was a mouthy, too. When I'd tell him to get out of the kitchen during dinner, he'd slowly go in reverse, "talking" the whole time. He didn't like that and ALWAYS told us so.
It was around this time in 2021 that his health was failing, and fast. Normally around 110/115 lbs., he stopped eating his food...even pizza crusts with peanut butter on them. When I took him to the vet for the last time, he weighed only 87 lbs. Going there I knew it was probably time. I remember sitting in the waiting room with my sunglasses on trying to cover my tear-filled eyes. There was a man in there trying to talk to me about Junior. I did my best, but it was hard. Inside the vets room we made the decision that the time had come. I'd given him 11 great years, as he had given me.
I stayed in the room, as I had with my two other dogs, until he drifted away. It's SO hard, but so important that you're in there with them. He was tired and went peacefully. My best friend was gone.
I didn't think I was going to do this, but I called in to work and took a personal day. It hit me hard, walking into the vet with my friend, and leaving with just a collar. I put 280 miles on my Harley that day. I rode and rode and rode....halfway to Chicago.
A couple weeks later, not looking for a dog, I met a couple and the result was Abby. She's the first female dog I've had in decades. We still call her "him" from time to time. Tough habit to break.
Dogs are the best! Could you imagine not thinking about your mortgage, or yardwork, or your next car payment? I mean, what do dogs want and need? Three things....their next meal, to play, and YOU! That's it, nothing else. No matter the day you had, they're always there when you get home excited to see you. I've had a dog pretty much my whole life. They've been a huge part of who I am.
I recently heard an interview with M. Shadows from Avenged Sevenfold. He said something I'd never thought of before. He said that animals don't think about death. They probably don't even know what that is. They live in the moment oblivious to what's coming next. It's so true.
After Junior's death, someone told me something I'll never forget. They said that life is just a "series of dogs"....that it is.
-Meltdown-
Junior's tough guy look! Man, I miss this guy.
Abby, when I first got her.
Abby loves to play ball...but sometimes she doesn't like to give the ball back. :)
This is one of her normal poses....LOL She loves the belly rub.
