Everyone has the best pet. Just ask them.
Except for me; I’ve never pretended to have the best pet – although I’d argue that our dog Lucy was the best pet for us.
Lucy, known to friends as Lucifer if that tells you anything, was a good dog. A sweet dog. An absolutely crazy dog. Sweet right until the end, crazy until cancer took over the old dog and she lost the energy for crazy antics.
Cancer in her spleen and possibly in her liver and diaphragm (seriously?!?) caught up to her after a beautiful life filled with hiking, chasing tennis balls, neighborhood walks and being an incredibly loyal family pet to our family.
I learned a lot from my dog Lucy. And losing Lucy to cancer, as we did on August 19, still hurts my heart.
Lucy was a 10.5 year old golden retriever. She led a beautiful life & was with us through good times & bad. Always with big, slobbering dog kisses and always with incredible exuberance.
As with any dog owner, I’ll always treasure that crazy dog. She taught me many valuable lessons (as only dogs can) including:
1. Love unconditionally.
2. Be friendly with everyone, but be skeptical if they bite you.
3. Be excited when the doorbell rings, because it just might be the UPS guy with a treat.
4. Wake up in the morning ready to go & face the day.
5. It’s OK to be a pain in the ass every once in a while, but do it with noble intentions, never with malicious intent.
6. Don’t forget to nap.
7. Test authority and push your limits. A leash? Ha.
8. Don’t let the hard times wear you down.
9. Find something you love (anyone for a tennis ball?) and just do it over and over. And over again.
10. Take time to get out and play.
11. Bark at the TV & someone will change the channel.
12. Life is better if you are in a good mood.
13. Be open to meeting new people.
As I think back over the 10+ years with Lucy in our lives, I can’t help but think about the various surgeries & adventures that this crazy dog led us through over the years. Not to mention the turmoil she left with various friends who were adventurous enough to dog sit for us while we took vacations or snuck away for a weekend.
Looking back, it’s clear that the only way to not feel the incredible loss of a family pet is to not feel the incredible love they offer along the way. I suppose that’s a fair trade. Although nothing seems “fair” about the loss of a family pet in the days after losing them.
I’ll try to continue to cherish the memories and the lessons that a great dog can teach you. Pets teach unconditional love. That’s a lesson we can all use.
RIP Lucy. We won’t forget you.