Take 2: apologies from the lower cases of my heart

Good morning,

Something weird happened yesterday. I’m not certain why the post was in all CAPS (upper case). I’m well aware that Internetiquette suggests that all caps equals yelling. Urban Dictionary concurs. Readers think you’re a real knothead. I hate it too! I’ve check and rechecked, phone versions, WTAD.COM blog – even the post I send to myself. Anywho, I’ve changed the font and am resending if you got a headache from all that yelling. Even the neighborhood hounds were howling!

WTAD.COM/WHITE PAGES 31617

HE HAD THEM AT “WOOF”!

Bobbe White

If you’re a pet lover, it doesn’t matter if your pet is a dog, cat, rat or a goldfish in a wheelchair. Seriously, there’s now an apparatus for goldfish, which are afflicted with goldfish bladder disease. They’re buoyancy is compromised. They must be female, 50 years and older and have had 2.3 children. But, I digress. Pets mark our days. They love routine. Especially their humans’ routines. I’ve not much history with any pet but a pooch, but, trust me, “You won’t miss your pet’s routine, until you no longer have It.” Their presence isn’t fully appreciated until it’s gone.

Two weeks ago, our friends lost their Louie. It was sudden and devastating. Non-animal people may not understand this mentality and you may hear, “Jeez, it’s just a dog….” That’s okay. There’s a reason not everyone has a pet. However, if you’ve ever lived with and loved a dog (cat, rat, or incontinent fish) the devastation is real and raw. Rarely do our pets outlive us, but it can happen. (Cough-puppy trust fund-cough)

Generally, it’s never wise to offer advice unless asked. It’s hard. I try, until it comes to loved and lost dogs. Then I share my mom’s wisdom, until you want to beat me away, with a rawhide dog bone. Our 18 month old black Lab, Rocky, died suddenly, circa 1980’s. Mom imparted her wisdom with us. “The best thing to do is get another dog. It’s not as if you’re replacing the previous pet. Unlike with humans, at least with dogs (pets), you can do that.”

Unlike most advice Mom gave me as a thirty-year-old, I actually listened. We went three whole days and brought home another Lab puppy. We like Labs. We named him, Rocky, too. (Sidebar: Rocky II. We figured this could happen again and again and again. E.g. III, IV, V, VI and etc.) Without question, was the best move ever, because it redirected our grief instantly.

Our friends took my wisdom and went two weeks. The length of time is irrelevant. It depends on you. Wednesday, they found a perfect match at the Humane Society. Immediately, the family’s huge heart holes were healing and filling as one-by-one, they met the 4 month old pup, named Bruno. They renamed him Murphy. I was thinking, “Godwink.” He is and will be LOT of dog to fill their hearts and their home. He’s a Bernese Mountain Dog. Google it. His paws resemble Mufasa’s. He’s going to be BIG. For now, he’s just a roly-poly, playful pup in a (very) large, furry body.

The Godwink part? Five years ago, Michele and son, Ryan, volunteered to walk Humane Society dogs and adopted Louie. Last month, just two weeks before Louie died, Tim and their other son, Mitch, started walking dogs. It was as if they were getting ready to get ready. And just when they needed a dog most, “Godwink” needed his forever home. Coincidence? Perhaps. I’d like to think of it as Godwink. to the rescue. Call it serendipitous. (Or serenmurphitous…)

murphy