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Buddy: Two Weeks of Sheer Joy. Then…
Buddy left us a week ago, only two weeks after he came to us as a frightened, bewildered, emaciated little pup. We learned later he was almost certainly too old to be called a “pup”, but that’s the way we always saw him.
I wrote about the happy and spirit-filled first days of his time with us in Buddy, here and here, which account gives just a little taste of how many smiles he brought to this home with an infectious spirit which was so catching it gradually became evident that even My Lady’s huge cat was beginning to warm up to him. That “thawing” truly approached the miraculous level as that member of the family had never had any competition for his Mistress’ attention before!
Starting with the morning after he arrived, I found myself bounding out of bed very early and donning several layers of warm clothing (we were in an unusually cold snap) to take Buddy out for his morning walk. These were the times he really was my Buddy as he and I so enjoyed those times in the still quiet moments of the early dawn. Considering my age, it might seem a little mawkish to say it, but I had fun on those walks and I’m fairly sure Buddy did as well!
While he tolerated me, Buddy fell hard for My Lady and, of course, this feeling was mutual. More on the measure of love he felt for her follows.
Whatever life had dealt him in the years before he came into our life, he proved himself to be ferociously protective of us when another dog approached— ten pounds of growling and snarling feistiness, made even more surprising by the fact that he barked very infrequently.
Here is our little pal a few days after he took over our lives, in his favorite spot near My Lady’s chair.
Two days after Buddy’s “anniversary” of two weeks with us, I went to get him ready for our usual morning walk and it became painfully obvious that he was having a lot of trouble breathing. Alarms went off and were intensified when he refused his favorite beef snack. I bundled him up and got him right over to the Animal Hospital near our home— a more caring, loving group of people does not exist-and they immediately found several serious problems necessitating further tests during the next few hours. Later in the day, after two excruciating conversations with the head of the clinic, we experienced one of the most nightmarish moments any pet owner has to go through—the decision to put Buddy down.
So Buddy made the trip to The Rainbow Bridge, as immortalized in the poignant poem:
And here is our memento of that brief time we had with Buddy:
The Veterinarian, a person whose compassion toward Buddy and us we will always cherish, arranged for us to have a brief “farewell moment” with our little pal before he went away.
It was at that moment that I saw a scene play out I will never forget.
After he was placed on the examination table and we had a few minutes with him, My Lady said goodbye to Buddy—at that moment, in what was his last physical act, he wagged his tail-with gusto!- as he always had when he heard her voice.
Then… he was gone.
Goodbye, Buddy.
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I am so sorry. It’s unbelievably sorrowful to lose a beloved pet.
Jim, I am very sorry for your loss. But you should remember the joy and comfort you gave to Buddy in the time he was with you.
My daughter and her husband have two dogs that she rescued from the local shelter, and it is heart warming to see them all four cuddled up together in front of the fireplace, and then think of what the dog’s lives must have been before they were rescued.
Please try again. Another dog will appreciate your care.
Oh, no. I’m so sorry, especially since he was so young.
Thank you so much for this note; much appreciated!
Thank you, Jim; I thought long and hard about writing this but this really hit me hard and all of a sudden this morning it started just coming out and I realized, after it was done, that there really is therapeutic value in writing about grief, or other of life’s problems as they arise.
I especially appreciate this advice as this is exactly what My Lady and my Son have been urging me to do; I think I’ll take that one a day at a time but the odds are pretty good that I’m going to want to find another Buddy and there are so many out there who so desperately
Thank you, but it turned out he was not nearly as young as we thought he was when we first got him, accounting for some of the health issues which seemed to hit him all at once — infections around the heart, what I understand to be the animal version of congestive heart failure, and others. Thanks again, Jim
need any help they can get.
So very sorry, Jim.
God bless you all.
I’m so sorry!
you were together for just a brief time, but long enough to be with you forever… tears are falling as I write…he’s waiting for you
Jim, my sympathies. It’s a tough thing to go through. I had to put down a very good dog last year, the best dog I’ve ever had, after 13 years.
Jerry, based on what we’ve just gone through, I cannot imagine the enormity of the hurt and pain which must have come from having to say goodbye to a friend of 13 years; just unimaginable. I have found that one of the things which causes the pain to linger is the haunting doubt about whether anything could have possibly been done to save the little guy, in the face of the rather clear evidence being given us by the very kind and caring veterinarian. Thank you very much for your note, Jim
Thank you — I must say I have shed more than a few of those tears over the last week or so. Sincerely, Jim
What a kind note-thank you, Jim
Thank you for this beautiful sentiment, Jim
Susan, maybe I’ll bore you and Jerry to death will all the pictures of the little guy on my phone when we get together at the Hillsdale conference next week! Thank you so much for your note, Sincerely, Jim
You made me think of all the much loved pets I’ve had over the years—and still miss…
Jim,
Whether it is two weeks, two months, two years or twelve years, it doesn’t matter. A good dog will grab your heart and you his, or hers in a short time. Buddy was a good dog and obviously grabbed you, and more so, your wife. Hold good memories, you will have them forever.Here is our Buddy, now 12+yearsold and slow but still going strong.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – pets are family . . .
It’s a cycle we pet lovers all go through. The sad passing of an old friend and the new relationship with a brand new friend. My sympathies on the passing and congrats on your new pal. I always enjoy posts on our furry friends. ;)
As someone has said, the only bad part about having a dog in your life is that they don’t last long enough.
I love your Buddy; he captured me through cyberspace so I can imagine what power he must have over you and yours! Thank you for this note; it is much appreciated. Sincerely, Jim
Guess that’s why their leaving hurts so deeply- truly, a death in the family. Thanks, Jim