When I was living in California we found Patches at the local humane society. Melissa and I went to look. They had a long covered hallway of cages and every dog in there was barking. Melissa went through with her ears covered. She hated the noise. Then we came to this little pooch just sitting there not making a peep. We talked to the worker and took him to a little penned in yard to see how we got on together. She handed me a ball but when I turned around to throw it for him, I found Melissa and him laying together under the tree. Yes, he was our dog right from the start. 😉
The first time the girls took him outside, he saw this snazzy red convertible parked at the curb and hopped on in. He was ready to ride! I had to convince him that he was going to have to settle for my Sundance instead. He loved to ride and he had such good taste in cars!
Then there was the day the pizza deliveryman came and stood on the very wobbly chair by my front door asking in a quavery voice, “Does he bite?” lol, a more mellow dog you could not find.
When I left California with all my belongings, I had a rabbit cage, a bird cage on top of it, two cats and Patches in the cab of the truck with me. It was a cozy ride. He sat there faithfully by my side the entire trip. Back at my parents house I ensconced my poor southern California dog in my father’s barn through the winter. What a culture shock that must have been! But I’d come out of the house and he’d see me and just come running up the driveway. One of very few good memories of that winter.
I received disability and rented a house with a huge fenced yard. He was happy about the yard, but I think he was happier being back with his family. And he loved the bay window where this picture was taken. We moved again and life went on. His age was starting to show. I could see he had cataracts but it was hard to know how much he could see. He knew the house well enough to function (most of the time). I’d sometimes find him standing in a corner and help him find his way out. One day he got under my bed and got his head wedged in the wood slats of the box springs. Melissa and I had to remove the mattresses to get him out. Tricky to do without hurting him. The worst was the night the basement door was left open and he fell down the stairs (I’m sure he was totally incapable of walking down them at that point) and fell into the sump pump hole. His yelping woke Melissa up thank God. I dragged him out, gave him a warm bath and took him to bed with me. Poor old pup.
The day he could no longer stand, I knew it was time. It broke my heart. He was the best dog I ever had. We enjoyed 12 years or so with that sweet guy. I miss him still.
You know I love dog stories, and firmly believe writing about them when they’re gone is therapeutic. Very cute photo of Patches.
I think it is too. He was a real sweet fellow.
That made the tears well up in my eyes. He was such a great dog. He was so sweet and mild-tempered…you’re right, he was the perfect pup for us 😛 I never will forget about that convertible – it was too funny!!! Thanks for the trip down memory lane 🙂
He was a special fellow, with such perfect taste in cars. I miss him.
Hi, I remember Patches like it was yesterday. He was so very sweet and adorable. It was so good to read your story about him. Makes me happy and sad at the same time. He came into your lives at the perfect time.
I know, he was the perfect dog for us. There won’t be another like him.
Hi, lovely reminiscence on Patches. Sounds like the meeting at the shelter was a strong strange attractor in the iterations of the lives of three, two bipedal and one with ‘four-on-the-floor’. What a lucky little being to have been found by loving folks and accepted into lives so deeply.
I’m glad you’ve got a portrait of him in a usual hangout, to add context to memories.
Here’s to absent friends and family >clink<.
cheers,
pete
Ah so true Pete! He was a great lil guy and I’ll drink to that! 😉
I liked reading this. I have a 5 year old yorkie here in Plano, who is my baby 🙂 I don’t have any children of my own, so I really do treat her as my little baby. She had gotten really sick when she was about 2 years old and I thought I was going to loose her. I was sooo destraught & depressed for those couple of days. She did pull through, but I can’t imagine what I’m going to do when she does leave me 🙁 I can’t even think about it…
Sarah in Plano´s last blog post..FHA Extends Credit to Purchase
I know Sarah, it’s hard when they are one of the family. I haven’t had a dog since but I’m looking for one 😉
Dogs Rule! Gotta love a shaggy dog. And they just don’t last long enough. Patches looks like a great dog, and I totally understand the emptiness you have felt. Farleigh just turned 12, and is beginning to show her age, but I think she has a few more good years, but I dread the inevitable.
I taught myself web design 12 years ago when my previous dog, Gusto went to the Rainbow Bridge.
http://bargraph.com/gusto
Warning, please don’t go there if you don’t want to cry, and if you do, take some tissue.
I was a wreck for a month after he died, and it wasn’t until I finished that site that I was able to move on.
Another Landslide brought me down.
Brad
…and Chocolate Farleigh
Brad´s last blog post..Bringing Back the Music
What a beautiful dedication to Gusto. There is something about a shaggy dog. Watching them grow old and sick is the hardest thing.
Was checking in on your blog and so sorry for the loss of your Patches. Been there, done that, will have to do it again and it never gets easier.
Also read Brad’s tribute to his dog above, what a nice tribute page.
Hi Deb, Brad did a very nice tribute didn’t he? You are right, it never gets easier. But it’s worth it to have them in our lives 😉