My Sweet Boy

We were hoping and praying for the best, but it wasn't to be.  Instead of a ruptured disc, they found a tumor on Max's spinal cord when they did the CT.  It was on the top cervical vertebrae, and as such, not operable.  He had been in a tremendous amount of pain before, and so his daddy and I made the decision to have him euthanized.  It was the right thing to do, the only thing really.  But my heart is still broken into a million pieces today. 

He was with us for 11 years and 4 months, from the day he walked up to our house, begging.  His ribs were sticking out, and he was starved for both food and love.  I of course fed him and my husband agreed he could stay as long as he wasn't let into the house. 

A few days later my husband was out of town for a couple nights and the weather turned cold again.  I couldn't leave him out in the cold alone, so I let the dog in.  He had seemed to get along well enough with our cocker spaniel, who was inside, so I thought it would be OK.  I let him in, he jumped onto our bed, laid his head on my husband's pillow, put his paw over on me, closed his eyes, and let out a big sigh.  And we both knew then that he was home. 

He proved to be the most gentle and loving dog I have ever had the privilege of having in my life.  He was friendly to every single human he ever laid eyes on.  Oh yes, he might bark at you if you were coming up his driveway or onto his porch, but once you were inside he knew you were a friend and he was all over you for petting and playing. 

He was a huge cuddler.  Head on the lap, laying on you, sitting beside you in a big chair, leaning on you---he was very fond of the lean. 

 For the first while when he came to us, he was a shoe collector.  I believe he chewed up a couple at the beginning (along with our bedpost) but after that he just collected.  We would come home and find him on the couch with his collection after we had been gone.  Later he converted to socks.  If you left your dirty socks out on the floor, expect to find at least one of them missing.  My mom can attest to that fact.  He would hide them---between couch cushions, under dog beds, under pillows or the bed covers. 

He enjoyed playing in the snow.  After we adopted Macy (referred to as 'Max's puppy' for a while) he had a running buddy.  Snow or not, they would fly off the deck and into the yard and take off running, but the cold snow made them particularly playful.

I could write a book listing all the good things about Max.  He was a wonderful companion, a loving dog, smart, and just so gentle.  He had the softest ears that he loved for you to rub, and the sweetest little brown eyelashes.  Although I know the pain will dim as time goes on, our love never will, that is for certain.  Love you old boy. 

MAX

June 1999-August 20, 2011

"If there are no dogs in Heaven,
then when I die I want to go
where they went."

Will Rogers, 1897-1935