For the love of dogs

Cadie was with us a couple more days after I wrote about her last week, she got weaker and weaker as the weekend went on.  My son took her for a walk which she got excited about, he said, but halfway through she laid down and couldn’t walk anymore.  He carried her the rest of the way back home.  He made the hard decision to have the vet come on Monday morning to assist in her passing. I know it was the right thing to do, who are we to keep our pets around because we want them to be here for us?

When I saw Cadie on Sunday night I laid on the floor with her hoping to console her.  Normally she would greet us at the door and want to be right in the middle of everything.  She couldn’t or wouldn’t get up off her bed, she likely knew not to waste energy on that, we would come to her.  As I laid there, half on her dog bed she was oddly calm, she let me hug her and kiss her head, my face right next to hers.  She didn’t have her dog smell that usually has me telling my son she needs a bath. 

I cried, not caring that the whole family was watching me.  I told her I loved her, that she had been a good dog and I would never forget her.  Cadie’s last night was Sunday, my son, his wife and two kids slept on the floor with her so she wouldn’t be alone, her breathing labored most of the night I was told.  She was treated to her fancy bacon and cheese ice cream all weekend. 

Cadie and I had a mutual respect for each other, she just wanted to do right and be a part of my life.  Even if that meant being under foot while dinner was being prepared waiting for something to drop, or watching your every movement while you ate just in case you wanted to share. 

Cadie also loved to play catch, if I picked up the ball I better be prepared to throw for a few minutes, and when I was done she would still be willing to fetch and would stare me down until I picked up the ball again.  This was what she lived for, to play ball.  When she would come over you could see the excitement to get in the door to grandma’s house, I think she knew she was getting spoiled like the rest of our grandkids do.  Special treats, play in the pool, cuddle time and one on one attention. 

Her love was unconditional.  It has been that love I have been waiting for. I can see why people have pets, its acceptance, loyalty and devotion all together.

As Garth Brooks says in the song The Dance “Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain. But I’d have had to miss the dance” 

As much as I am sad and grieving Cadie, I would not have wanted to miss this chance to experience loving this dog and being beloved by her.

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