From commentor Carnacki:
Lucy looked up at me with her lovely dark brown eyes as she greeted me at the back door this evening. Her tail thumped into the metal cabinet like a drum. I bent down and kissed her forehead and scratched her behind her ears the way I always have.
__
Lucy was 9 when we adopted her two years ago. She was already old with gray around her eyes and throughout her muzzle.
__
She perked up when we walked through the rescue shelter looking at the various strays. She was in the last cage, a black Labrador-German shepherd mix that weighed nearly 100 pounds, a senior dog brought in by an elderly woman who had to go into a nursing home because of her health and could not find anyone to take in her dog.
__
It was July 7, 2007. 7-7-07. A lucky day, we said.
__
Ms. Carnacki wasn’t certain we should get such an old dog and had not thought of us getting such a big dog. But there was something about the way that Lucy lit up when she saw our three daughters and us. We took her outside on the leash and she moved like a puppy, happy to be outside and licking the children with her long tongue. She won all of us over and we took her home and it was as if she had always lived with us. She wasn’t a pet. She was family.
__
A week after we had brought her home with us, I strained my right hamstring while running intervals for exercise. I had decided I was going to milk it for the weekend and put off the jobs on my to-do list. I was on the sofa with a horror movie on the television at 2:30 a.m. and my feet propped up. Lucy lay on the floor next to me, her head resting on her paws while I gently scratched her head.
__
Suddenly she jumped up and raced into my oldest daughter’s bedroom barking fiercely. A neighbor’s dog was barking in that direction and I thought Lucy was answering him. My fear was she would wake my daughter. Unlike Lucy, I was a fool.
__
But thankfully we had Lucy because the next morning we discovered someone had opened my 9-year-old daughter’s bedroom and pulled over the children’s metal wagon and attempted to enter her room. Lucy had frightened the burglar off.
__
For many nights afterwards, Lucy and I patrolled the yard at night for the police had suspected the person had watched the house for some time and picked that window deliberately. Only our adoption of Lucy had saved us from a world of hurt. I wanted to be seen aggressively keeping watch around the house to send the message to anyone watching that only Death and a fiercely loyal, big, black dog awaited him should he return.
__
She has been with us through many trials and tribulations, loyally guarding us and loving us. She’s the first to greet me at the door and help me transition from long-distance work commuter to father.
__
One of her greatest joys is to catch sticks. She doesn’t return them. She chews on them until she breaks them, often with one bite of her powerful jaw. Not long ago she stopped jumping for the sticks and a couple of times she fell trying to catch them as her weakening back legs gave out from under her. I built a long ramp covered with outdoor carpeting and with side-guards to make it more secure for her for her to use instead of the back steps. She uses it to go down, but stubbornly prefers to struggle up the steps than to go up the ramp.
__
We were fearful we were going to lose her last month, but she bounced back. However, on a follow up visit on Friday, we discovered her weight had dropped to 87 pounds. The vet, who has brought her back to health twice before and I would trust with my own life, told me Lucy has cancer and estimated she has two to three months at most. At Lucy’s age, treatment is really not an option.
__
There’s little more we can do for her. We’ve always loved up on her. We’ve always spoiled her (though she remains a very polite dog). So we just have to keep treating her the way we’ve always treated her to make the most of the time we have left with her. We have pain pills for her and I’ve picked out the spot where we’ll bury her and plant a memorial flower garden.
__
For $15 we adopted Lucy. I wouldn’t trade her for all the money in the world. She’s made me the happiest dog owner ever.
__
(I originally wrote this on July 20, 2009. Eleven days later, Lucy, who faded fast, died as I held her at the vet’s and whispered in her ear how much she was loved. I miss her very much.)
Scott
What a good, good dog.
harlana
Oh I must change my comment, I’m sorry, did not know she had already passed. You did a wonderful deed, bless you. Rest well, Lucy.
stuckinred
You gave each other such gifts.
Violet
Oh, I teared up at the end. What a wonderful dog. You did a great thing adopting her and you both were so fortunate. RIP Lucy.
Biscuits
She was beautiful.
tim
God and the Universe bless sweet, good Lucy forever.
And you too for not being afraid to take her into your home and heart despite her age.
I have two rescues, very young. Many years from now, when they pass, my heart will break. And having them in my life will have been worth every tear. I already know that.
Ash Can
What a wonderful story, and what a great member of the family she was. May she rest, and may your memories of her always bring you joy and comfort.
Nikki
Good lord. Either I’m extremely emotional today or that was the loveliest love story ever, because I’m sitting here with tears in my eyes.
elmo
Thank you for sharing her with us. Beautiful dog, beautiful story, and now I will have a beautiful memory of this dog that I never had a chance to meet. Thanks.
Foxhunter
These stories are always so very touching. My wife and I put down our beloved bassett last February. He was 14 years young and I still get teary-eyed when I think of all the joy we brought to each other.
We are actively looking for another companion as our young daughter (11 months) has taken a liking to the neighbor’s dog and we are finally getting restful sleep again. Perfect time to re-introduce a tornado to our lives.
I’ve decided to forego the pursuit of a purebred and adopt…our local shelter is busting at the seams with over 70 dogs right now and they need help.
Thanks for the repost!
Louise
I can’t find anything to say. Thank you for sharing your story.
R-Jud
Your story has just proven that this “waterproof” mascara I am wearing is not, in actual fact, waterproof.
There is probably a dog in my family’s future. I hope she or he is as good as Lucy was.
Meanderthal
Goddamn allergies. I can’t see a thing.
Good dog.
Rosalita
oh {blub}, what a beautiful story! your family and Lucy were so fortunate to find each other. thank you for sharing…
stuckinred
And about cancer treatment. No one can tell you what it is like to go through it with a dog. When our cocker came down with anal carcinoma we consulted with our vet and made a commitment to go for the maximum treatment. We took him to Auburn for surgery, chemo and radiation. He was there for 6 weeks punctuated with our weekly trek on Friday evening and return on Sunday. The radiation seemed to be the hardest on him, it burned his rear end and never did grow back. He was miserable for 2 months and we really began to question what we had done. We didn’t know at the time that pain meds have limited impact on dogs. We were on the verge of putting him down when we had a group over for dinner. He was upstairs and when he heard folks he came down (boo-boo loved his peeps). It was at that point he seemed to turn the corner. He got better a little bit at a time and ended up surviving for 2 1/2 years with pretty decent quality of life. I tell this story because we say we wouldn’t put a dog through that again. It wasn’t the $20,000 plus, we agreed and we went for it. It was the misery the little dude went through. I in no way think people shouldn’t do it if they can and want to but it’s a difficult thing to experience and the critters cannot tell you what they want.
WereBear
What a wonderful story. Sounds like Lucy was sent from heaven.
Kristine
I was pretty sure I knew how the story would end, but I read it anyway and teared up like I knew I would. Good Lucy. Good on you and your family for taking her in.
TaMara (BHF)
This. It’s been a very emotional month in this household so I’ve been purposefully staying away from the rescue threads. But to everyone who has loved and lost a pet, you have my gratitude and heat felt sympathy.
This was a beautiful story, thank you for sharing it.
TaMara (BHF)
This. It’s been a very emotional month in this household so I’ve been purposefully staying away from the rescue threads. But to everyone who has loved and lost a pet, you have my gratitude and heat felt sympathy.
This was a beautiful story, thank you for sharing it.
Foxhunter
@stuckinred:
I can relate. Not to the 20k+, but to the choice that needs to be made and when it is appropriate to act.
We had mid-grade hip displaysia, arthritis, prostate issues, a grade 5 heart murmur and ultimately cancer.
I’d propped ‘Pounder’ up on rimadyl and benazaprine for 2 years and once he couldn’t walk up or down two steps, we knew it was time to let him go. But it was the most difficult decision I have ever made.
When his lymphatic system blew up overnight, it was time.
Cried to three days and didn’t sleep well for two months. Thank goodness we had a newborn that was somewhat of a distraction.
Auburn is a good program. We are near Athens and consulted with a UGA vet, and he concurred with our decision.
BigSwami
People never tell you this, but if you’re new to the adoption experience, adopt an old dog.
My wife and I have adopted and fostered dogs. The young ones need so much work, training and attention and so forth. The old ones are so sweet and gentle, you don’t need to teach them anything.
And that’s why you can’t teach an old dog new tricks: they already know anything that’s worth knowing.
Curt
Hey Carnacki–funny running into you here! Don’t know if you caught it (not sure I remembered to send you a link), but I reviewed one of your sequels to MYSTERY OF THE HAUNTED VAMPIRE a while back. Hope all is well with you!
stuckinred
@Foxhunter: Yep. I live in Athens, our vet is a UGA grad and Auburn was his advice. The lymph nodes were the final call for our boy too. Being “old” I had the experience of letting a dog go too long some 25 years ago and vowed “never again”. Never gets any easier but it’s an important responsibility for pet folks. One person told me it was the second best thing you ever do for an animal.
Foxhunter
@stuckinred:
Sage words…
Go Dawgs!
stuckinred
@Foxhunter: 15 days!
Mike Kay
GREAT NEWS FOR MCCAIN!
1. General Motors took the first formal steps on Wednesday to once again sell shares publicly, highlighting a remarkable turnaround for the corporate giant a year after its bankruptcy and setting the stage for Washington to withdraw from its majority ownership stake in the automaker.
2. CBO says keeping bush tax cuts will blow up the republican’s precious deficit
3. Obama on a roll: Pulling out of IRaq, GM returns, Gulf well capped, and he did the right thing on the mosque. He still hasn’t walked on water, though. What’s wrong with the man?
Remember when Obama decided to save GM, daily kos actually whined that it would be a waste of money and told obama to let Old Auto die and instead use the cash to fund Future autos in silicon valley. Oh, if obama had only listened to the blogging elite who put him in power we’d all be driving our flying cars to the beach, this weekend.
Face
Too lazy to google it, but wasnt that the day of the London subway bombings?
Mary G
That is a beautiful story about a beautiful dog and her beautiful family. It made me weepy and smiling at the same time. Thank you for sharing it with us.
bmcchgo
Stop it you guys! I’m welling up in my cubicle here. I’ll get a rescue dog soon – I promise.
Bnut
This story is NSFW. Not everyday I have to excuse myself to the bathroom to pull it together.
Dog is My Co-Pilot
Oh, my gosh – what a wonderful, wonderful story. Thank you for sharing it. Lucy was truly an angel that came into your lives for a reason. I believe that about all pets. Thank you for rescuing her and giving her such a loving home. Sounds like she paid back your kindness many times over.
geg6
Good dog, Lucy. Good dog.
And good Carnackis, too. You hit the jackpot with Lucy and treasured her as she deserved.
Damn, I hate when I cry at work. I just know that we’ll be going through this with Henry sometime soon (he’s 12 and a Lab, so he’s nearing big-dog end times). And I’ll be devastated when that big old lug goes. And I don’t even want to think about how my John will take it. They are joined at the hip.
Thankfully, we have a second rescue dog who, by comparison is just a puppy (Otis is 4). He’ll (slightly only) soften the blow with his lovable, if hyper, ways.
Jane2
What a lovely story….Lucy was indeed a gift.
phoebes-in-santa fe
My brother and his wife just put down their 12 year old German Shepherd, “Lucy”, (lots of dogs called “Lucy”) the other day. A tumor near her heart. They were appropriately sad, though Lucy had been an undisciplined handful her entire life.
I told my bro that Lucy had had a wonderful life thanks to them. We owe our animals good lives but we also owe them good deaths. Lucy had both.
Carnacki, it sounds as if your Lucy had both, too. There’s a place in heaven for those people who rescue animals.
Cain
Dammit.. I hate crying in the morning. A wonderful story. Thank you. I’ll be thinking about Lucy today.
ruemara
Nothing like starting the day with a good tear feast. Lucy sounds like a 4 pawed angel and you were good parents. As I look over at Smudge (the senior Smudge of Balloon Juice) and know his 14yrs are coming to an end soon, I ‘m just not ready to say goodbye yet.
Comrade Dread
More rescue dog stories, please. My blood is boiling with the political nonsense going on and these breaks do my blood pressure good.
Comrade Darkness
What a sweet story. It’s not the quantity of time that matters, but the quality.
One of our rescue cat was left at the pound under similar circumstances. Calmest, sweetest animal. I suspect living with the elderly teaches animals to be extra zen family oriented.
cckids
This was lovely. We have 4 rescue animals here; they are simply the best, most loyal friends ever. Best wishes to you & yours.
taylormattd
Carnaki is the best. Very fitting to have such a wonderful dog.
Church Lady
What a wonderful life Lucy must have had with you. And what a wonderful life you had with her. Thank you for sharing. Rescue dogs are the best. They are so happy to have a family to love and are so grateful for the love they receive. I know how hard it is to lose a pet, especially to cancer. You question yourself as to how far you should go to save them and, as a commenter said above, they can’t tell you what you want. Losing Lola in May was so hard, and not a day goes by that I don’t miss her so much that my heart aches, but I know that letting her go was the last and best gift we gave her.
HumboldtBlue
Why you gotta get a brother all cryin’ an’ shit and it’s still the beginning of the work day?
Good girl, Lucy. Good girl.
bystander
Oh, Carnacki. I weep. I just weep.
k2
I cried, I admit it. We’ve had to make that end of life decision for our loving animal friends several times. It is necessary but heartbreaking.
This morning my wife called me at work to tell me that our 9 yo Golden Retriever had almost stopped breathing after a walk and she was on her way to the vet with this 85 lb. dog (my wife only has her by 40 lbs). This awesome, beloved family member almost left us this morning.
The story hit me hard and the lump in my throat just won’t subside.
asiangrrlMN
This is a heartbreaking, lovely story of a wonderful dog. I, too, am in tears. They are with us for such a short time, but they make such a huge impact on our hearts.
@k2: I hope your girl is OK.
Puss
As the former owner of several best friends who have since gone to the Rainbow Bridge, and the current owner of four cats and one dog all of whom I am likely to outlive, I understand all the joy you felt at finding your friend and heartache you felt at losing her. And bless you for taking in an old girl-you have earned your spot in heaven because of it.
Christin
Oh Carnacki….I so remember you from DK.
Beautiful man. Beautfiul dog. thank you for sharing your life with her.
Yes – this made me cry too.
But good tears too, that there are people like you who balance out the bad people in this world.
I just forwarded this link to everyone I know.
She will be remembered by many.
Thank you for giving her so so much love.
MillieNeon
What a great story. I live with two cousins who have been rescuing dogs for years. They each have two dogs, both rescues.
They also foster dogs. A little over a month ago, a tiny little creature, a miniature poodle, was brought to us to foster. She was well up in age, had lived in a cage most of her life, had been used to breed puppies. Her name was Daphne.
The poor little thing was used up. And she’d been so neglected, unloved and abused. One eyes was all white because an eye injury had been tended to. And her teeth were all rotten and had to come out. Plus, she had a lot of tumors on her belly from all the breeding and bad food.
When took her in, she was depressed and scared.
We started feeding her well, giving her a lot of love and petting, and within a week, she fit right into the household. She couldn’t get enough of the petting, and her little tail was wagging all the time.
She wasn’t housebroken when she first got here, but she soon got the message to go when she and the other dogs were let outside or walked. She was so smart.
The rescue group for whom we fostered have vets who provide free services to these animals so they can be adopted. So Daphne was scheduled last Monday to have surgery on her teeth and tumors.
She didn’t make it. But at least she had a wonderful end of life and learned a little about how good love could feel. We’ve fostered other dogs, but Daphne really tugged at my heart. RIP Daphne.
And thank you for your story about Lucy.
MillieNeon
TYPO in MillieNeon’s post.
“One eyes was all white because an eye injury had been tended to.”
should read
“One eye was all white because an eye injury had not been tended to.”
[email protected]
Thank you all for the kind words.
I told my daughters that morning that Lucy would go through any amount of pain for us, that she would give her life for us, but that we shouldn’t let her. I asked them to be brave for her and to make her last morning filled with happiness.
They were so brave and sweet and I shall never forget how they surrounded her with love.
ChristieS
Good dog, Lucy. Carnacki, what a beautiful story. Thanks for the smile and tears.
Beth
What a loving expression in Lucy’s beautiful eyes; so kind, so caring. And what a wonderful, moving story. Thank you.
mere mortal
Thank you for the story of your wonderful dog.
My Iris faded faster than your Lucy, from a little listless and not much appetite to passing blood from a bladder tumor inside of two weeks after twelve healthy, happy years with me. The last kindness I could offer her, we did August 6.
I know I’ll adopt again, just trying to get myself together enough to handle the shelter. Stories like yours will certainly help get me there sooner.
Zhirem
Ladies and Gentlemen, one and all:
If you are not going to hunt it, breed it, or show it: Get a rescue dog.
Do the right thing and go save a dog’s life.
Please.
You will not regret it.
Not once.
Except maybe, just for a little bit, when you have to say goodbye.
Then it hurts like a full-force gut punch.
Thanks for sharing.
– Zhirem
chaseyourtail
Ohhh, she’s such a beauty.
chaseyourtail
I’m so sorry you had to lose her. RIP sweet Lucy.
Jebediah
@Zhirem:
Not to be too nit picky, but even then it won’t be the adoption you will regret, just the loss. And yes, it hurts like hell.
But yes, rescue dogs all the way!
Jebediah
@MillieNeon:
What you did for Daphne is how we people try to make up for the rotten-ness our species is prone to. She was a lucky dog to go out being loved.