I have not done much blogging for a while. Either here or my book blog. While that goes against my goals for the year I don’t think it matters all that much because of the reason for it. My beloved rescue dog Watson was sick for sometime. He seemed to rebound for sometime but then he took a turn for the worse. The end diagnosis was Bile Duct Cancer. A very aggressive and hard to deal with cancer in dogs. It rarely if ever ends well. Watson held on as long as he could. He was such a good boy. Never complained about a thing and just wanted to spend time with his Mama and cuddle.
Eventually though a choice had to be made. As long as he was not in pain or suffering I was content to spend as much time with my boy as I could. Cuddling him, loving him and cherishing him. I knew he would not be with us much longer and I wished to make every moment he was count. The time got closer, he was telling me he was about done fighting. Bless him I could even tell he felt bad about that as well. He was the kind of sweet boy who never wanted to trouble anyone at all. Then last Thursday he was showing signs of discomfort and pain. That was the last sign and the final choice was made. Within an hour of his first signs of discomfort we said our last tearful goodbyes. The way to the vet he was cuddled in his favorite blanket and we road with the top down in the car. Watson loved the top being down and the weather had come out for him perfectly nice for it. People smiled at him from their cars, one man said he looked very happy. There was a large group of people on bicycle’s waved at him as we drove past. It made me smile and cry at the same time.
When it came time. I stroked his ears like he enjoyed and I looked into his eyes. I could not hold back my tears even though I knew he never liked to see me cry. But I told him what a good boy he was, how much I loved him and that I would see him again. That he could rest now and not to worry Mommy would be okay. I would miss him but I knew I would see him again. He went quickly and peacefully in my arms.
I miss him. My Watson with his spotty dotty ear. He was a good boy. A gentleman always, we called him the Tom Hiddleston of dogs. It was perhaps the most apt thing we could say about his sweet personality. The house and pack as a whole was changed. A heavy energy hung over all of us and my sweet girl lost her spark. She missed her bubby. Trying to do everything to make her happier again we were doing car rides every day, little errands but she loves car rides. We finally made a choice to take two big bags of dog food down to the shelter where we got Watson and donate them in his name. That was the only intention that we went with.
Then there was a nudge. A little push a feeling, to go look in the kennels. I follow such feelings and so I went. Many sweet babies were looking for homes. To help my sweet girl to perk up a bit we did a meet and greet with a lovely friendly boy named Caesar. She perked up and had fun running and playing and yet nothing clicked or tugged and Caesar failed the cat room test. He was a good dog a sweet boy but not everyone is meant to live with kitties.
Then there was a whisper about a boy that might fit, a boy who was never noticed by anyone he was not doing well in the situation of being in a kennel. A boy who was used as a bait dog and had been in terrible condition when he was found. There was that little push. I agreed to meet him. There he was in the same kennel my Watson had been in. Folded in on himself, a cone of shame from his neuter on his head. He didn’t even want to come to greet me at the kennel door. A broken soul who had given up. Another little push.
This lovely boy was brought out (without his cone) to meet with my girl. She lit up. That spark was back in her eyes and she was wiggling all over the meeting area. Then a tentative little wag from the broken boys tail. Accepting pets from my hand. A tentative smile and then he looked into my eyes. This beautiful soul wanted to trust, to love to know what love was. He was scared but in those Amber eyes there was a desire and a want to feel like he could trust a person again. Another little push.
Olly has been with us for two days now. Already he is starting to blossom. He is learning to trust, to love we see him smile and wag his tail. Things that are perfectly normal for a dog, but for a dog who has had the start to life that Olly has had these are milestones. Wonderful milestones. He sleeps with me or with my girl, cuddled bonded part of the pack. He had his first trip to the dog park today and he came alive. He ran, he played, he wagged his tail, he greeted both dogs and people.
Olly still has a road to travel. You can see the scars on his face and legs still, he still needs to gain weight and the scars of the soul will take time to heal as well. But they will all heal. He will thrive and get better. My girl did, my Watson did and he will too. Thank you Watson for leading me to this boy who needed my help. Thank you Watson for helping to lift your Mummy’s heavy heart a little bit. Thank you Watson for making the energy in the house feel right again by this.
I miss you my boy but you have given of yourself again to make sure that life continues.
