Just a dog
This has been a hard summer for our family. In June we said goodbye to our sweet Misha. She was an old dog, and her body was causing her all kinds of issues. She hurt. It was her time. We said goodbye, and we mourned.
Then, Tyler and Logan said goodbye to their dog at their Dad's house. They adopted Shadow not long after we got Misha. Shadow was old, it was his time. They said goodbye, and they mourned.
Yesterday we lost our Tucker. We were not prepared for him to go. We feel stunned and hurt, and we still cannot process it. We didn't have a chance to say goodbye, and we're still deeply mourning.
The phrase "it's just a dog" has been echoing in my head as I cry with the loss.
Tyler, being autistic, sees all beings as equals. When my sister adopted her little girl, Tyler, upon meeting the baby said, "I will try to love her just like I love Misha and Tucker." He meant that with all his heart. While trying to process the loss of Tucker, who he was very close to, he said "At least I still have Mark and Logan and Nash." Nash is our remaining pet. To Tyler, each being is an equal part of our family. While we laugh at this, I do believe Tyler is right. Maybe a dog doesn't have the same relationship as a human, but it is a deep relationship none the less.
When the boys were babies, we had Fred. Fred was a fabulous being. He was Logan's buddy. The boys climbed all over him, pulled his hair, drooled on him, and he would still come back and curl up next to them. He was ever patient and watchful of the two little guys. When Fred died, we mourned.
Several years later we decided it was time to bring another dog into our family, and Misha filled the dog shaped hole in our world. Misha was the sweetest, easiest dog in the world. She came to us already housebroken. She was smart as could be and eager to please. She loved the boys, and would play with them, sleep with them and look over them. She was full of personality. One thing that always cracked me up is when Mark and I would have an argument, she would often get between us, facing Mark and bark at him. She was protecting me. She didn't bark much, so this was a remarkable thing. Smart dog, she knew I was right. <grin>
A few years later, a friend called, distraught. He had brought a cute pup home on a trial visit and his dog did not like having another dog in the home. He begged us to take the dog as he was such a sweetie. Mark was not keen on having another dog join the family but before I knew it, Mark was sitting on the deck with Tucker curled up on his legs. Tucker joined our family on that day, and we were blessed by it.
Tucker was the boys' dog. He loved the boys. He grew up with Logan, and I think he viewed Logan as his equal. They were companions. They went on adventures together, and Tucker spent part of last summer with Logan in the Upper Penninsula. They went hiking almost every day, exploring the beauty around them. I truly think it was Tucker's happiest time, being up there exploring.
Tucker thought it was his job to protect Tyler. He was always watchful for Tyler, and we joked that we never had to worry about someone hurting Tyler when Tucker was around because he would have defended Tyler with all he had. He came to us after being surrendered by his first owners. He then went to a rescue, which is where our friend found him. He had been abused and his feet were in bad shape. He never got over being protective of those feet. For a long time he didn't like people in baseball hats. We figure the man that beat him wore a cap. Eventually, he learned he was safe, and he got past that phobia. Tucker was fiercely independent. He would spend time on his own, then come join us when he wanted to and then would leave again. He was also an intense dog. He would hug, using his arms, like a human does. He had that spark in his eyes; you knew he was connecting with you. He was special.
Nash came to us after being trapped in the neighbor's yard one stormy March night in 2012. We posted "found dog" ads, but we were not sad when no one claimed him. Nash is an old dog. We have no idea what his age is because his mouth was in such bad condition, the vet has had to pull most of his teeth. He wants nothing more than to be next to me or on my lap. He is a cuddler and is so happy to have a home. Nash is bonded to me. Nash is pure love.
Each of these "just dogs" brought unique things to our family. Every day they were there for us, protecting us, letting us cry untold tears into their fur, getting excited when we came in the door, happy to be spending their time with us. They see it all, the good times and the bad. They listen without judgment, they lick our tears away and make us laugh. The spend more time with us than most of our family members.
Yes, they are "just a dog". They are pure love, and devotion, and loyalty. They are protective and funny. They are there when we need them, and they want nothing more than our love and attention. Tyler has it right, we are all important, in different ways. While our hearts have two huge dog sized holes in them, we know one day we'll welcome another dog into our hearts and our family. That future family member will have a unique personality and will bring their own joys and memories to us. Thank you God for creating "just a dog".
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| Beautiful Misha |
Yesterday we lost our Tucker. We were not prepared for him to go. We feel stunned and hurt, and we still cannot process it. We didn't have a chance to say goodbye, and we're still deeply mourning.
The phrase "it's just a dog" has been echoing in my head as I cry with the loss.
Tyler, being autistic, sees all beings as equals. When my sister adopted her little girl, Tyler, upon meeting the baby said, "I will try to love her just like I love Misha and Tucker." He meant that with all his heart. While trying to process the loss of Tucker, who he was very close to, he said "At least I still have Mark and Logan and Nash." Nash is our remaining pet. To Tyler, each being is an equal part of our family. While we laugh at this, I do believe Tyler is right. Maybe a dog doesn't have the same relationship as a human, but it is a deep relationship none the less.
When the boys were babies, we had Fred. Fred was a fabulous being. He was Logan's buddy. The boys climbed all over him, pulled his hair, drooled on him, and he would still come back and curl up next to them. He was ever patient and watchful of the two little guys. When Fred died, we mourned.
Several years later we decided it was time to bring another dog into our family, and Misha filled the dog shaped hole in our world. Misha was the sweetest, easiest dog in the world. She came to us already housebroken. She was smart as could be and eager to please. She loved the boys, and would play with them, sleep with them and look over them. She was full of personality. One thing that always cracked me up is when Mark and I would have an argument, she would often get between us, facing Mark and bark at him. She was protecting me. She didn't bark much, so this was a remarkable thing. Smart dog, she knew I was right. <grin>
A few years later, a friend called, distraught. He had brought a cute pup home on a trial visit and his dog did not like having another dog in the home. He begged us to take the dog as he was such a sweetie. Mark was not keen on having another dog join the family but before I knew it, Mark was sitting on the deck with Tucker curled up on his legs. Tucker joined our family on that day, and we were blessed by it.
Tucker was the boys' dog. He loved the boys. He grew up with Logan, and I think he viewed Logan as his equal. They were companions. They went on adventures together, and Tucker spent part of last summer with Logan in the Upper Penninsula. They went hiking almost every day, exploring the beauty around them. I truly think it was Tucker's happiest time, being up there exploring.
Tucker thought it was his job to protect Tyler. He was always watchful for Tyler, and we joked that we never had to worry about someone hurting Tyler when Tucker was around because he would have defended Tyler with all he had. He came to us after being surrendered by his first owners. He then went to a rescue, which is where our friend found him. He had been abused and his feet were in bad shape. He never got over being protective of those feet. For a long time he didn't like people in baseball hats. We figure the man that beat him wore a cap. Eventually, he learned he was safe, and he got past that phobia. Tucker was fiercely independent. He would spend time on his own, then come join us when he wanted to and then would leave again. He was also an intense dog. He would hug, using his arms, like a human does. He had that spark in his eyes; you knew he was connecting with you. He was special.
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| Logan and Tucker - buddies |
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| Tucker with Tyler |
Each of these "just dogs" brought unique things to our family. Every day they were there for us, protecting us, letting us cry untold tears into their fur, getting excited when we came in the door, happy to be spending their time with us. They see it all, the good times and the bad. They listen without judgment, they lick our tears away and make us laugh. The spend more time with us than most of our family members.
Yes, they are "just a dog". They are pure love, and devotion, and loyalty. They are protective and funny. They are there when we need them, and they want nothing more than our love and attention. Tyler has it right, we are all important, in different ways. While our hearts have two huge dog sized holes in them, we know one day we'll welcome another dog into our hearts and our family. That future family member will have a unique personality and will bring their own joys and memories to us. Thank you God for creating "just a dog".
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