The Love of a Dog

And vice versa. . . . the love I have for my dogs is personal and hard to explain to someone who doesn't have a pet, so the conversation is best had with other passionate dog owners. I would do nearly anything for my dog (pictured with me on this site).

Recently he came down with an illness and we had to rush him to a pet ER near our home. After what seemed like hours of vomiting/coughing they determined he had pneumonia. This was about 6 weeks ago. He still doesn't seem to have bounced back like we hoped he would. Anyone looking at him would believe he's fine but there are little things. He goes off by himself a lot, when he would join the family previously. He seems quite winded after a short run, where previously we could walk for an hour with him sprinting about when I would let him off leash, and not be tired. We are probably great big worriers but he is so precious to me, and to our family. The "C" word was mentioned by the ER vet when he looked at the x-rays of our dogs lungs. . . .but he's only 4 years old. That big "C" word continues to lurk in the back of our minds. Scraps a precious scruffy puppy dog. . . .a ring tailed dingo terrier . . . LOL

We lost a dear friends several years ago to just that. Our Murphy, our first pet as a family, our dear golden retriever that filled his bed with his babies (stuffed animals). Our darling flat backed retriever (overweight) that would stands at his food bowl wagging his tail the whole time he ate. A dog who when he was young had his uncanny knack of finding treasures on our walks . . . we had 'french bread', 'hamburger' and 'pig' (all rubber) that he kept for years. As a puppy I would sit on the floor and he would come and sit in my lap as I tossed a ball, running to retrieve it, bringing it back and sitting in my lap once more. He continued to do that up until the day the cancer took away his ability to move properly. He was a lot bigger than he had been as a pup, but coming and sitting in my cross-legged lap on the floor as a 90 pound dog was still precious. . . and he is sooo missed.

I still have the picture of my first golden retriever next to my bed, my wonderful, smart Colin. A treasure I bought for myself as a junior in college. I went to a laid-back college in Southeastern Ohio and Colin occasionally came to classes with me, sleeping at my feet the entire class. Other classmates were amazed this beautiful dog would sleep at my feet, never making a sound. When we would walk the downtown, Colin would walk with the leash in his mouth. He did not want me to carry his leash, he wanted to do it and would walk right by my side the whole time. I would go into a store or restaurant and he would lay down outside the door and wait for me, and nothing would distract him from his task . . . . this task of waiting for me. He was a rare and wonderful creature. And I miss him still 16 years later.

The Love of a Dog. Not to be missed.