by Sharon Dunn
Bart my border collie will be 13 this fall. It is only in recent months that he seems to be slowing down and showing signs of aging. He thumps down the stairs rather than scrambles. He doesn't jump up on my bed at night and his eating habits have changed. Overall, he just seems to have less enthusiasm about life.
Bart is the first dog I have had that was truly my dog. Even though my son (13 at the time) was the one who wanted a dog, I was the one who fed him, potty trained him and spent the most time with him because my job allowed me to be home. So he became my dog.The dogs that were in my life when I was kid were family dogs that mostly stayed outside unless the weather was really cold. Those dogs would run around the country side with the six of us kids, but I don't think I ever bonded with them.
Bart is my best buddy. Seeing this slow decline is hard and I can't imagine my life without him. He is my constant companion. He has added so much to my life, I consider it a privilege to usher him through the final stage of his. I love the way he still wags his tail when I or my kids come home. The way he lays at my daughter's feet when she naps on the couch. The way he still watches at the windows to let me know if anything is amiss outside. I hope he sticks around for years to come.
How about you? Do you have a beloved pet in your life? Or maybe you did in the past or in childhood. They truly become best friends. Leave a comment along with your email. I'll choose two winners at random to receive a copy of my upcoming book Threat Detection which is part of the Love Inspired Suspense Pacific Northwest K-9 unit series. The book features an adorable K-9 beagle named Freddy whose speciality training is in sniffing out electronics.
no pet
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
Even though she's "just a barn cat," we've had Meow for almost 11 years. She too is declining, and I'm spending much more time with her and fixing her tasty treats to try to encourage her to eat. I know her time with us is short, but she has been a wonderful companion through the years. Not only has she been a good mouser, but someone to talk to as we do barn chores. She's been a great listener and doesn't often offer conflicting opinions. :)
ReplyDeletecarrottopfromtexas2@gmail.com
pets are great listeners.
DeleteMy lab Z is 14. He’s my rockstar; from a paralyzing blown disc at 9, where his recovery “will take a miracle” to listening to kids read for hours his happy has never changed. His nickname Puppy has only felt less true this year, though if he can sneak a run to the cat food dish his unrepentant pleasure in the win still gives him a bounce in his step. I know our time is a gift. Becca12901 (at) yahoo.com
ReplyDeletetrue, the time with them is a gift.
DeleteOur sweet lab is a great friend. She’s loyal like no other.
ReplyDeleteTammy Griffin
cluedn@mac.com
Barbara Diggs englishathome01@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI had a beloved shaggy dog, Curry. Sweetest disposition ever. She was 35 lbs, but assumed she was a lap dog. One Thanksgiving we took a four-mile walk and she was worn out. She plopped down and refused to budge. My husband had to place her in my daughter’s doll stroller and carry the doll on his shoulders. We were quite the comic relief for passerbys. She died in 2001 at 15 years old. We still have her doghouse and it’s moved across three states and remains in our backyard.
I have two rescue kitties, and both are on the deck with me as I work.
ReplyDeleteWe had pups I don’t remember and a couple that I do. We had a boxer and cockapoo growing. They are such great companions.
ReplyDeleteWe have a cat now who is seven years old. We had a Pekingese from the time he was a puppy until he got cancer and passed away. I hated seeing Mickey change from an enthusiastic protector to a whimpering little guy who was always in pain. The vet diagnosed him and gave us meds so we could have one more weeks with him. Hardest weekend ever as we carried him out to the bathroom because he couldn’t walk and hand fed him rice and lean meat just so he would eat something. As you said, he gave us so much pleasure for so many years that it was only right that we should make his passing as easy as possible. watts.vickie@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI have had dogs of various breeds all my life, and loved them all.
ReplyDeleteI bred Shelties for several years. Best dogs ever. But when they
Died of old age, my heart was broken. I thought forever. My husband
And I went years with no dogs in our lives. Didn't think we could handle it. When we finally decided to get one, we just couldn't find the right one, so we left it to God and told Him if He wanted us to have one, He would have to just drop it in our doorstep. A few months later, that's exactly what happened! A friends daughter could no longer care for a Morkie she had, and he was brought over to visit.
H we has been here since, and we are convinced He is an angel in disguise, and has rescued US!
gma.rocs09@gmail.com
I lost my Miss Kitty to cancer, then a couple of months later I lost my Smokey. Angels then placed two babies needing a home on our back porch. One looked just my babies that passed then two more that looked like them. Catlover0112@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteMy grandpups are my beloved pets. Austen, a King Cavalier and Poppy, a mini pinscher. They always make me smile.
ReplyDeletemarypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maryann
One of sons wanted a dog so bad that measured the back yard for a fence as we had a leash law. The dogs had to be penned, fenced or chained. My husband had been raised on a farm so no dogs inside. He finally relented and said to get a small dog. I found Tricksie, a pug dachshund mix as a puppy. Like you I did a lot of the taking care of her. We moved out of state and our son stayed with a brother as he had started college. Needless to say she became my husband and my dog. We had her 13 ½ years before had to let her go. We both cried like a baby.
ReplyDeleteMy parents got a dog when I was 5 years old from the animal shelter. His name was Dingo and he was actually half Australian Dingo and half something else. We think maybe retriever. He lived for 17 years. So we had him practically my whole childhood, and after all these years we still miss him.
ReplyDeletedianah7272 (at) gmail (dot) com
that's a long time for a dog to live. so glad you had so many years with him.
Delete😭 Your pup's story should be every dogs story... loved and cared for by those they love until the very end. 💝 Thank you for making this journey with your dog because so many don't. I now have only 9 dogs, and I love each and every one. One of my dogs, Doc, was even in training to be a SAR dog. He was exceptional, but he's 13 now and getting a little older. He still loves to "Go search," though. :) Mary G.
ReplyDeleteI had a dog growing up. So hard to loose them ...
ReplyDeleteI hope he sticks around for years to come too!
kykla99 AT gmail DOT com
Awww, our border collie will be turning 10 this year and I can tell she’s starting to slow down a little. She’s been such a great addition to our family!
ReplyDelete