I am feeling sad this morning. About two years ago our family’s Maltese Reggie headed off to the Rainbow Bridge. Then about 10 months ago my precious cat Monkey joined him.
This morning I received an email from my dad telling me that the decision had been made to send our family’s chocolate lab Brutus to play with his pals Reggie and Monkey.
I knew Brutus’s health was failing, and that it didn’t look like he’d last all that much longer. But I really thought he’d still be there for me to hug one last time when I go out to CA in May.
It’s the right decision. In my heart I know it. He’s gone mostly deaf, nearly blind in one-eye, and his limp has gotten progressively worse. I spoke to my grandma this morning and she was telling me how she even has to help him get in the car – this is one dog that absolutely LOVES car rides.
My grandma put the phone up to his ear so I could talk to him for one last time. I’ve “talked” to him that way many times before. I don’t know if he really could hear me or if he was remembering from previous times where the phone was held to his ear – but grandma said he perked up a little bit and was licking the phone.
This morning I was remembering the first time I met him. It was my sophomore year of college, and I had come home for a weekend. My family had rescued him from this other family who were getting divorced and had pretty much kept him tied up in their back yard for the past year (I won’t go into what I think about THAT!)
I’d had maybe a day to make his acquaintance when we found ourselves alone in the house together. The doorbell rang, and when I opened the front door, Brutie zips out (In our family, we have INSIDE dogs). He’d only been with our family for a few short weeks. I was shoeless and sockless (normal mode for me) and ran out after him.
The chase lasted several hours, going all over our neighborhood, and even out on the main street for a short while. The whole time I was thinking that if something happened to that dog how mad my brother would be at me. (He started out as my brother’s dog – until his junior year of college when he went to CA when he became more of my dads dog.)
Finally, completely exhausted, I sat down on the edge of the curb and put my head in my hands. No sooner had I done that, than I feel a cool, wet nose nudging my arms. The game was over – he had won, not only the game, but my heart as well.
My brother, Reggie (Maltese), Brutus (Choc Lab)
My brother and Brutie - the goofballs. 
Not financial - A new Rainbow Bridge occupant :(
March 24th, 2008 at 04:25 pm
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Sending hugs you way.
March 24th, 2008 at 08:12 pm 1206389536
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Scfr, Yes, he was a darling of a dog. I was talking with my mom last night and we were remembering how sweet a dog he was. Looked intimidating to other people, but wouldn't hurt a fly.
Boo,
Thank you. He went to the Rainbow Bridge yesterday around 10 a.m. Pacific time.
March 27th, 2008 at 09:44 pm 1206654247
March 28th, 2008 at 02:41 am 1206672119