Hounds of Love

Yeah Yeah Yeah - Earth Day..........blah blah blah. 

More importantly, today would have been Petey's birthday. His 20th. 

I still think of him often. It's hard not to. His low-key attitude and his cuteness opened 710 up to having a dog, as he'd never had that experience. 

And it was a good number of years we had with him and when we no longer had him, 710 wanted another dog. 

Some point in our Petey-dom, I swore we'd never get another hound. Stubborn. Food driven. Stubborn. Slow when they want. Rebels. Flight risks. And of course, stubborn! And cute as fuck. 

As it turns out, we are hound guys. I'm not sure we'd get another breed, but who knows. 

The day we "lost" Petey, we ventured to a park we'd never been before. Now, we go to that park several times per month with Shep. The squirrels are not happy about this, but Shep loves it. 

I do love Shep to death, but Petey will always hold a special place in my heart. He wasn't as affectionate or interactive as Shep, but he was my heart. 

Earth Day indeed. Petey made Earth much better. 

Song by: Kate Bush

Song for a Good Son

Even I, Blobby the socially inept, know that one is not supposed to play favourites with your kids. But I suspect everyone does it. 

I have adored every single pet I've ever had, or had the pleasure of knowing - except for one of Meredity's cats. Horrid creature, she. The cat, not Dith. 

Today would have been Petey's 19th birthday. 

I fell in love with Petey when he was eight weeks old and belonged to my sister.  I loved all the dog she had, but Petey had a special place in my heart. I can't tell you why exactly - he just did.  

9+ years later, we would take him in. Love him. Care for him. Nurse him. And love him some more. 

710 says he was the perfect starter dog. And he was. Especially for 710 who never had one before. Don't get me wrong, for years, it was a lot of work tending to his conditions, but we wouldn't have had it any other way, as we knew no one would have cared for him more. I dare say, even my sister and her family. 

Sure, I could have put 3-4 kids through college on what we spent on him, and it was still worth it. 

Pete was as low key as could be, but ever adorable. He made us hound folks. I do love most dogs, but it is doubtful we'd own anything but a hound. 

I believe Petey made us better people. While I don't really care for children all that much, I get that you put your kids first and make them the priority. We did that with Petey............and now Shep. 

Yeah yeah - we love and loved the cats, and treat them with the same reverence, but........it's different and you know it. 

So, I've been thinking about him lately, as we lost him around this time five years ago, followed closely by his birthday. 

A few more parting shots. 

Cuteness abounds on his stacked beds. 

Partners in crime. 

Sophie would loathe to admit it, but she loved Petey. If it weren't for his constant / violent sneezing and such, I think she would have slept next to him more than she did. But he was an old man, with old man attributes......and she has her limits of what she'll put up with. 

Anyway, happy birthday to my boy. 

Song by: the Bangles

Two of Us

I know, deep down, that I have to start stopping Petey posts. I get it.

But yesterday was Earth Day - like that's anything!  It would have been Petey's 14th.  That is way way more important, in my books.

So with just a quick glimpse of him, here are Petey pix.

Lounging in my sister's kitchen. 

Stacking beds. He would never allow Boomer to have his own bed, so he took them both. 

 The ever-present tongue. The softest in all the land. 

My Man

Song by:  the Beatles

A Little Time

I know I said today might be a last Petey Porn day, but I'm not ready for that. I can't bring myself to go through the kerjillion pictures I took of him over the years and select. Maybe in another week or two.

I'm in self-pity mode.

The last thing we did at the vet was take his collar. It had his license on it, and his name was stitched into it.

It's been pretty lonely without him. I still base my mornings and coming home from work on his schedule. I still place things on the stove or the counter in a way that Petey won't be able to reach them.

We finally got to the point to pick up his dog beds and bowl. I still need to wash his pillow, but it still kind of smells of him. I know that sounds weird - trust me, I know.

I had to break the news to my nephew yesterday. I didn't have to, but he asked about Petey. I purposefully held off, as not to upset him his first two weeks at a new job in a new town. He just asked if he went peacefully - and I could honestly say 'yes'.

I'm still learning to overcome my social ineptness too. But a few days after, I did write a note to the vet's office and thanked a half dozen people by name who really gave Petey exceptional care over the last few years. I really think they adored him - and I know they probably fawn over most of their animals, they always seemed to take exception to Mr. Pete.

A few days ago, we got a card from the staff.

I almost cried.......again.

Still I miss the man. In certain ways, I miss sleeping on the sofa with him all night so I could take care of him. I miss his kisses with the softest tongue on earth.

In actuality, after he lost his hearing a few months ago, I stopped really getting kisses. Petey didn't know many commands...........let me rephrase:  he knew many commands and obeyed like three, but one of them was "can I have a kiss?" and he'd do it. Willingly.

It's not easy to get a beagle to do anything willingly - at least when it doesn't include food. After he stopped hearing, I stopped getting kisses on command.

I finally told one neighbor about Petey, but that was only because she asked me if he wanted to walk with them. So maybe the news will trickle through the 'hood.

There have been lots and lots of questions of a new dog. It's not that we haven't thought about it - but not actively. Deep down I know it wouldn't be to replace Petey, but it is still too soon to consider, let alone act on it. Maybe in Autumn.

Maybe.



Song by: the Beautiful South

That's How I Knew This Story Would Break My Heart

I didn't say it then, but in my last 12 of 12, the picture of Petey and myself was his last. Well, the second to last.



I'll give you a second on that.




Yes, I'm afraid to say the end came for our beloved friend. A week ago actually. The day I took that picture. His very last picture is for 710 and myself only.

I'm as sorry to have to tell you as you are to hear it.

I'm assuming the reaction most of you have is saddened, but not surprised. That is ok, as it seems to be the general reaction of the few people we have even gotten the gumption to tell. I have found there is no easy way to say it. Not easy way to break it. And not accurate way to put it.

I've caught myself saying "we put him down"......but it makes me think of someone shooting a horse who is lame. I'm finding there is no good way to phrase it.

I love 710, but in certain ways, Petey was my heart. He was the best of everything. Loving everyone. Kind to all. The nicest eyes. The softest ears and tongue. I loved him from the day my sister brought him home. He always had a special place in my heart - and always will. I've said it before, of all the dogs my sister has had - and I've loved them all - none was even close to Petey-love.

No doubt, the last few moths have been rough for all of us - Petey included. He struggled and we with him. We did whatever we could for him. We stayed up all night with him if needed and were happy to do it. He saw the vet more than any dog should have to endure that trip - and he did it with grace.

While it was the right time and the right thing to do, it's never easy. I was strong......and then I was not.

I never understood the appeal of Peanuts....and for that matter, Snoopy specifically. I never got the fighter pilot or bird-friend thing either. I always thought he was kind of a dick. And I think he kind of is, unless you just see still shots of him.

In theory I knew Snoopy was a beagle, but I never really saw him that way, or knew what it meant, until we had Petey. Then Snoopy {kind of} became endearing. Charles Schultz must have had one in order to draw one with the mannerisms of the breed.

You won't be surprised to hear how much we miss him. It's been a week and we have not adapted. I expect him underfoot in the kitchen. I still plan my morning and getting home so I can make sure he gets out. I swear I hear him snort and sneeze when I'm up in bed.

I think it will be some time before we do find a sense of a new normal - and that's ok. 710 said aptly a few days afterward, "I feel I need to take care of someone". I know what he meant. It seems that we've been always looking after him - his needs, regardless of his health.

Someone at work this last week mistakenly asked me, innocently enough, if we had a dog. I had to fight back tears. And there's nothing like telling an almost stranger why you reacted that way - making them feel shitty in the process.

Overall, people have been great (though it sucked having to tell my sister) to us over the news. I can no longer ever ever ever make fun of Mike (see? no XXS). He, Peter and Otis were amazing. Everyone has been.

In the end, the vet was great. We went to our normal practice and saw a new vet. And the one vet tech who LOVED LOVED LOVED Petey, had another vet tech take her place, as she couldn't bare (bear?) to be there at the end. And actually, new everyone was probably the best case scenario. Dr. Smith adored Petey, as did Karen. As emotional as we were, the added tears would have been too much for me.

It was all very peaceful. I told him I loved him and thanked him for just being him. If heaven exists, he will be there waiting for me. This I know. I mean, unless he's on the scent of something better, but we'll catch up.

I suspect there will be one last Petey Porn. Probably next week. Just glimpse of pictures of his life. And ours. But mostly his. It could be a lengthy post.

I am thanking all of you in advance of your thoughts, so don't be too put off if I don't answer individually. Going from previous comments, I know you enjoyed the ride as much as we did.

Song by: Aimee Mann

Panic

Poor Petey.  Poor 710.  Poor Dog Walkers. Poor Us.

The Petey Cam is a good thing - and a worrisome thing.

710 tuned in yesterday to see Petey circling and circling on the floor and making coughing, shortness of breath noises. He texted me to tell me so, but unfortunately, I was in no position to leave work and go home.

Petey is the huge disadvantage to not working at home. Sophie can pretty much take care of herself. Petey? Not so much. He's a senior.

By the time the dog walker got there, Petey had two accidents in the house. That is SO not him.

710 rearranged his day, left work and got home. He also called the vet. Ruckiry (not Jon's boss), the vet tech who simply loves loves loves Petey answered the phone. While she first gave him an appointment, she changed her tune and told him to bring in Petey right away.

Phew.

That made me feel a little better.

Petey was so short of breath they actually had to give him an opiate to calm him down. It seems counter intuitive but it worked. Of course, he had oxygen, a steroid shot and a pulse oximeter too. 710 had to leave him at the vet for four long hours.

As his lungs and throat were clear, meaning no signs of pneumonia at all (though to me he exhibited all the symptoms - even though he was fine when I left for work) the best the doc could come up with is that Petey had had some kind of panic attack.

Since I had a work dinner last night, I couldn't even come home right from the office. 710 had him all bundled up on the sofa (which is no doubt where I'll be sleeping keeping the dog safe and comfortable).

Though Mr. Pete is on an inhaler once a day for the rest of his life, he is now on a second one - - twice a day.

For a few days, until he rebounds (hopefully), the dog folks will come by twice a day. It's a small price to pay.

Someone once told me that getting old isn't for sissies.....was that you Spo?  This is the same for elder pets.




Song by: the Smiths