Sasha was run over three years ago tonight. An unimportant post.

[Faygo Kid]

She was an unimportant dog, living an unimportant life. Half pit bull; half black lab. Didn't want her at first. She had been beaten and abused as a pup, and was abandoned. When my previous dog died, I took her in, covered with ice and with her ribs showing. It took all of one day (honestly) to potty train her. She knew I liked "The Andy Griffith Show" after work, and knew when that whistle started for the show, it was time to curl up in my lap (not a small dog, by any means), and to fall asleep. She chewed a lot (lost some shoes), but she got over it really fast. Liked the water, and the sticks I threw to her (a Lab, after all). Loved other animals; thought possums in the country were just great (sniff at them and then back off), and that cats were to be snuggled with (occasionally harassed; but they got her back). People crossed the street, because she was "homely." I called her the "Bunny Rabbit," remembering Captain Kangaroo, and knowing her personality. She was off her leash in a park in Michigan three years ago tonight, and saw another dog she wanted to make friends with - across the road. No, she wasn't much, and didn't live a long life. But I remember her tonight, and hope you remember the "pets" who have enriched your lives immeasurably, who are now gone. Here's to you, Sasha.

[commander bunnypants]

1. A very important post my friend

Sasha sounded like a great dog and you miss her a great deal. Well at now I know The Cattbutt has a protector and friend in that great big field.

:cry:


Jon

[Faygo Kid]

6. Thanks to you, and thanks to all.

Having a hard time with this, and not sure why. Maybe it's because, after two years of (senior level) unemployment, I start a very good job Monday. Maybe I remember who was there for me. And what is really important.

[redqueen]

2. What a sweet post

Cheers to you for being such a loyal master. :toast:

Thanks for sharing this and reminding us to appreciate our companions, whether they're still with us or not.

[Rainbowreflect]

3. Thank you.

I will remember my furry friends that are gone and go home & hug the 2 I have now.

[Desertrose]

4. some of our "pets" are more memorable than some people...sad but true

:hug: to you...and Sasha

Desertrose...remembering my first horse love Ginger and Kizzy & Pucchie who were so patient with me.....miss em all.....

[Kathy in Cambridge]

5. Sasha sounded like a great dog

here's to her memory! :toast:

[Faygo Kid]

8. Thanks (with a tear). Remember yours, too.

Thank you so much. It means a lot, and I am a total guy that doesn't go in for this sort of thing. Except, I am surprised myself, about these memories. Well, who knew being human would be so unpredictable - even in your 50s? Thanks again.

[Bertha Venation]

7. faygo,

I couldn't read your post because I knew it would make me cry. But I want you to know that you're a fab dog person. Sasha is running and playing in dog heaven with Buddy; they're having a blast and waiting for us. :hug:

[commander bunnypants]

9. and The Cattbutt is egging them all one

betcha they cant catch em.


DDQM

[Bertha Venation]

17. No, I'm sure Sebastian Cattbutt

torments Sasha and Buddy daily. Until it's time for a big pile-nap.

:hug: for Demman

[Faygo Kid]

10. Tell me about Buddy. I want to know.

The dogs I have had in my life (I am in my 50s) are the best people I have ever known. Tell me about Buddy. I want to know. It counts.

[Bertha Venation]

15. Buddy the Pound Dog

I only knew him for about a year. He belonged to Mrs. V. and her best friend/ex. They went to the pound several years ago to find him. They'd looked at a lot of dogs, and asked the attendant to get this big black one out of his kennel for a romp in the visitation room. As the attendant was leading the dog to the room, Mrs. V. saw a coiled hose in the pathway, and she said, "Look out, buddy" -- and the dog stopped and turned and looked at her. They knew: "this is our dog."

Buddy was a big lunk of curly black fur. He was very playful -- he loved to play "get that baby!" (stuffed toy), and he'd get down with his chin on the ground and his butt in the air for a carpet romp. He ate spaghetti: we'd give him a strand and he'd wind up with it wrapped around his snout, trying to eat it that way.

Buddy could talk. Whether he learned it from his first family or from the delinquents in the pound isn't known, but he had quite a vocabulary. On trips, he'd sing, "ridin' in the car. Ridin' in the car." If we passed an elderly man or woman driving the drive of old age, he'd yell, "Old goat!" or "Old bat!" Or, if it was a young woman, he'd yell, "Old bat boot camp!" The one that shocked me, though, was, "SLUT!"

Buddy loved to have his ears & belly rubbed, but hated to be bathed. He also loved chasing squirrels, but he caught one once, then looked around at Mrs. V. to say, "Now what do I do?" Buddy went "ptooey!" and the squirrel went "asshole!" and ran off into the trees.

For the real dirt on Buddy, though, you have to read what Mrs. V. wrote about him yesterday:

"You Have Quite A List of Noxious Expellers of Flatulence Here . . .

"but nothing and no one could hold a candle to my late dog, Buddy, in the farting arena. Buddy could clear a room, dare I say an entire house, with his farts. He could wake up the dead!

"I miss that old dog so much, but I surely do not miss his flatulence."

(see http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=808579#808740)

Buddy went to join Sasha almost three years ago. He had been ill for a while, and Mrs. V. & Dorothy were assuring his quality of life -- and it was very good -- until it was time for him to tell them, "I'm tired now, Moms." He told us.

:loveya: Faygo.

[Faygo Kid]

18. That was beautiful. Dammit, more tears!

Gonna have to get off of here; not sure of what I started. I just wish I could have met Buddy. We would have been kindred spirits. A beautiful post. Thanks so much; I am saving this one. Another talker, eh? Geez, I hear them still.

[Mrs. Venation]

21. Buddy

When D and I adopted Buddy, she really wasn't totally convinced he was the right dog for us. For one thing, he was too big. But, at the pound, there had been a pit bull terrier dropped of that was raising Cain; all the other dogs in the place were barking, but Buddy was quiet. I walked over to the run where he was; he moved to the front so I could pet him through the chain links and he said he didn't know what everyone was so excited about.

D and I took him to the "get acquainted" room. Buddy was so glad to be out of that run, he paced around the room and wagged his whole body. Finally, D said, "SIT." Buddy sat; he sat right on her lap (she was sitting on the floor). That did it; Buddy went home with us.

He was the gentlest dog I ever knew, and he was quite well behaved. He was, however, passive-aggressive. For example, he knew he was not allowed at the table when we were eating. He'd sneak up to the table, and we'd tell him "out." He would move away from the table, but lay down so that his paw or his chin was touching the area rug in the breakfast area or the dining room!

Buddy was afraid of house flies. I was home one day, laying on the sofa reading, when he spotted a fly. He tried to catch it for quite some time, without success. He must have decided it was a demon-possessed house fly from hell; he leaped onto my torso and I had to force him off. Up again he came! I got him off. The third time, his teeth were chattering and I knew he was afraid of the fly. I got up, got the fly swat and killed the damned thing. From that point ever after Buddy would get in a tizzy if there was a fly in the house.

Buddy had a way about him that conquered everyone, even people who didn't particularly care for dogs. He'd sit and look up at people with those beautiful dark brown eyes, and the next thing you knew he'd be getting his tummy rubbed, or a portion of someone's food . . . whatever it was he was interested in at that moment. Tummy rubs were one of his favorite things; he'd roll over on his back and stay there for as long as he could keep someone rubbing that old tummy.

Buddy was our best friend for over 10 years. We had him euthanized in March, 2001 when the cancer he had lived with became unlivable. As Bertha said, he told us he was tired and in pain. Euthanizing Buddy was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do. I loved that old dog with all my heart and I miss him every day of my life.

Buddy enriched lives immeasurably, as only unconditional love can do. I will love him and remember him always.

[Loki]

11. I remember them with a favorite line......

"You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there long before any of us."

Robert Lewis Stevenson

[roguevalley]

12. she wasn't important. she was a prince. I remember my two

Andys and my mama cat and my two spike cats thanks to this.
thank you for letting me remember gretchen too. hugs to you
and your act of kindness. see what it means to you to be one
of the good guys? hugs.

[orwell]

13. Rosie

I lost my beloved Rosie, a Rottweiler just a few short months ago to bone cancer. I still miss her every day. She was the best dog I ever had.

Condolences faygokid.

O

[Faygo Kid]

14. And mine to you, Orwell.

Rottweillers, mutts, who cares. A good night to remember. The pain of losing them is terrible, but the way they enriched our lives makes it worth it. I miss all my dogs and cats and turtles and others; but what would life have been without them? When we are gone, at least we will have loved, and been loved even better unconditionally, by our "pets." They show us the way we should love one another.

[orwell]

16. Well Said

They show us the way we should love one another.

O

[ewagner]

19. If you care that much about a pet....

then just think of how much more you care for mankind.

I've always believed that the best people are the ones who can love a pet.

[xchrom]

20. bless them all

you will be with sasha again -- and i can't wait to see my sport.
he passed away not to long ago -- my priest will bless his ashes.
what a wonderful thread this was -- i actually needed this and didn't know it.

[Faygo Kid]

24. I didn't know I needed this thread either. Cathartic.

So many good responses. Sounds like Sport had someone in his life who loved him. Not a bad deal, at all; not everyone has that.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

22. Ralph, Terry, and Mist are keeping her company

They're all waiting for us, Faygokid... :hug:

[RebelOne]

23. Your post choked me up.

No dog is unimportant. And it sounds as if this doggie was important to you and had a loving home.

[Faygo Kid]

25. Thank you. If I am judged by treating animals, I will be judged well.

Yes, she did have a good home. She was not the only one, just her anniversary today, and the shortest life of any pet I ever had. Tell us about yours.

[proud patriot]

26. Thanks

Remmbering Lady and Jake

[AGiordino]

27. May be the ONLY important post here tonight

My Jabber Jaws looked like the result of a yellow lab and pit bull cross. Somebody dumped him out in the country and he showed up at my house hungry and scared but friendly. He joined the pack and was a sociable member respectful of the Queen Siberian Huskie and the frumpy old near-blind Australian Shepard.
That boy loved to fetch a ball. He'd fetch until my arm and shoulder were past sore and on towards numb. Run? He looked like a cross between a bull and freight train when wound up and stoked on the coals.
He never really understood me, but he would come out on those cold clear night when I would take out the telescope and watch deep space and the occasional satellite. He would lay right there by me as I wandered through the universe enjoying the Messier objects. He never complained about the cold or lateness of the hour.
He would spend his most happy times laying on the living room carpet on his back chewing contentedly on his XL Kong. When he wassn't doing that he wanted to sit in your lap and make sure that every square inch of your face was absolutely dog-slobber antiseptic clean.
He loved with is whole heart mind and soul. It was just a shame that he learned to climb fences and chase semis. It was even more of a shame to come home and find out that he had finally achieved his ulitlmate victory and caught one . . .
I will always miss that old bundle of never grow up puppy muscle.
Thank you for reminding me
sniff

[Faygo Kid]

28. Thanks for posting. A great story, beautifully written and heartfelt.

Wow. They mean a lot to us, don't they? You are one fine writer - and person.

[area51]

29. Sasha

I'm sorry for your loss, faygokid. I'm glad she had a good life while she was with you.