Friday, January 13, 2012

Remembering an Old Friend: Guest Blog Post

Today we have a Talking Dogs guest post from the dog daddy at our house, known to some of you as the Chief Medical Examiner and my husband, Gary.

Remembering an old friend...

Having recently lost Tucker, my old friend of 14 years, I have been thinking a lot about him. 

A few weeks ago, while stringing lights on the Christmas tree, I was remembering one of the last walks we took together.   

We have a fenced back yard of about two acres which the dogs have access to.  However they all love to go for a walk outside of the yard with their daddy.

Nobody loved the walks more than Tucker. The last few years of his life he was suffering with arthritis and got to the point where he had trouble standing up, but once he was on his feet he was always ready to go for a walk.   

I regret terribly that we didn’t take more walks. Once we were out the front door Tucker was on the move. Slow and steady but moving ahead. Regardless of how long the walk lasted or how tired he was, he never once asked to go back to the house. When I would tire out and start back, he would always want to go for more.   

On one of those last walks together Tucker scared up a rabbit. I saw it lying in the grass long before Tucker did so I steered him toward it.

Now, to help you get the image, it helps to visualize a 98 year old man who needs a walker to get around. Although Tucker didn’t have a walker (he could have used one) he walked very slow and deliberate as he made sure each step was secure. 

When Tucker got about 6 feet from the rabbit it bolted and ran. Tucker came alive and gave chase. Well at least until he got to the end of the leash and I stopped him. He watched as the rabbit hopped off and into the high grass and was gone.   

In hindsight I wish I would have let him go. One last good chase.  It’s not as if he would have caught the rabbit or even got close but he would have loved to try, and I know he would not have gone too far in his condition.

But it’s too late now and it makes me sad that my basic instinct to keep control of him deprived him of that good chase. I should add that we were about in the middle of our 46 acres so he would have had plenty of room to safely chase the rabbit. 

You see, for years one of Tuckers jobs around here was to keep the yard clear of all invading critters, rabbits, armadillos, squirrels.  He had retired from that job and had turned it over to the young and swift.

But when Tucker saw that rabbit he was young again.  Age nor ability was not a thought.

I wish I had let him go.

5 comments:

  1. I meant to comment on this a while ago, but it slipped away from me (and my reader).

    Such a bittersweet tale. Tucker was a very lucky dog. :)

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  2. Hi there, I just found you at Sugars blog and so glad I did. I can tell that I am among another that has a passion and deep love for dogs. I just lost our sweet old dog on March 28th and this post almost made me cry. You see, our Reggie had been sick for about eight mos. and the week before he died we found out he had heart murmurs and would probably pass from congestive heart failure. Your rabbit story rung a cord with me-because since he had gotten so old and slow, the rabbits have been enjoying our yard-two specifically. Well one evening Reggie was out and saw one and gave chase. Sounds like your Tucker. He didn't catch it but sure looked like a younger dog chasing it. I was half afraid that he might have a heart attack but he didn't. That very night though, he began having trouble breathing; it was his time. I like to think he had one more chase but I also wonder if the running didn't kick in the heart issues for him. Now both he and Tucker are running free, chasing rabbits to their heart content.
    I'm going to follow you because you've touched my heart today. I've been missing our dogs-though we are just finishing up a vacation. I hate a home without a dog and our will be empty when we get back. Hopefully soon though I'll have a little pup to fill it up.
    Noreen

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  3. Hi Noreen, Thanks so much for stopping by. Please know that our hearts to out to you for your loss. Reggie sounds like a sweet, sweet boy... like our Tucker. Though some months have passed, we still miss Tucker and in February we lost our Lucy, too. It's a hard thing - losing best friends. Luckily, we still have our Jeffie and Rudy to love us as only dogs can. Hugs to you, Sue

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  4. I know what you mean.. we want to protect them, knowing the bolt and run will hurt them later. My standard poodle will get a burst now and then, to play chase with Dad. I say, noooo he'll get hurt, and the two of them say, noooo gotta do it when you can, mom. LeeAnna at not afraid of color

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  5. Tears :( Never knew Tucker but sounds like he was a very special boy.

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