How To Say Goodbye

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.  ~Roger Caras


The dog was created specially for children.  He is the god of frolic.  ~Henry Ward Beecher

Dogs' lives are too short.  Their only fault, really.  ~Agnes Sligh Turnbull




As I write this, I yet to know how it all will end. How my daughter and son will respond. I just need to get it out.

 A year ago we took into our home an amazing dog. His owners where not able to keep him and the soft hearted people that Nathan and I are when it comes to dogs, we added him to our family.

I remember bringing this little puppy home. Logan was asleep. Chico sniffed the floor following the path Logan had taken before we laid him down.

Sandra took a little car and ran it up and down his back. Chico sat and smiled, wagging his tail.

Logan at some point in time cried and Chico immediately went searching for the little boy. He loved the kids naturally and easily.

With my depression Chico had begun to be my "service dog". Sensing my moods, my needs, taking care of me.

The go-go puppy loved to be on the truck with Nathan. On the floor board by the passenger seat, looking out the window watching the world go by.

It is amazing how attached we become to someone, something, in such a short period of time. Our emotions being tied to this animal, this dog...



At first just Sandra claimed this dog as her own. Recently my son has begun to play and love on him as well.

The kids playing fetch, tug-a-war, cuddling underneath the table. If you saw the kids, Chico was not far behind.

Our Chico was roughly two years old. Still smelled like puppy in his ears. A love bug who needed to be cuddled and kissed. Playful and sweet with children of all ages and sizes. This fearful creature was anything but something to be feared. As long as you were not hurting his kids that is.

 Today the children and I walked over to the neighbors. As the children played together Chico sat anxiously awaiting his kids. Walking back and forth, following the sounds of the children with his ears, eyes, and chest.

The body language of a dog is amazing if you watch carefully.

As I was helping Logan onto the trampoline, Chico snuck over and was hiding underneath. I turned and saw our dog staring up at the feet of the children. His children that he protects and loves.

I hollered for him to go back to our yard, slowly he turned and went past the tree line. Moments later our sweet dog had been hit and killed by a truck.

I tried to stop it. Hollering for him, going towards him. It was too late. The driver got out and apologized, it wasn't his fault. This stranger, with tears in his eyes carried my sweet boy to the side of the road out of the children's view.

After putting Logan down for a nap, I walked Diesel out to his companion to say goodbye. I know the moment my Shepherd knew what had happened. His ears flat, and straight back. Tail stiff. Sniffing the air he slowly moved toward the body and smelled him.

As we moved back towards the house Diesel strayed away from me. I bent to pet him and pulled away. Coming inside Diesel grabbed a dog toy and dropped it at Sandra's feet. There he sat looking at her. She
gave him a hug.

I have not told my children that their dog is gone. Their dad needs to be here so we can do it as a family. When we lost Jacki, before Logan was born, Sandra had nightmares and was angry with me. She was barely two.

Now my son is two and my daughter is four. I have no idea what to expect as reactions. We will plant a tree above his grave. A tree that we pick out as a family, just as we had done with Jacki.

It is hard to teach someone how to say goodbye. Especially when it is goodbye for good to someone they love. To my blockhead, my service puppy, we loved you and you will be missed.