things i got from this dog

I went to work the morning Buddy passed away. I knew how I would sound compared to a coworker has call off for crazier reasons like his parents a month a part, or his brother getting crushed under a car, or his niece being involved in an auto accident in Eureka. After all, Buddy was a senior dog. Even when I need time to process what happened so sudden. This day dragged like a sailor looking for land through fog or pretending I’m okay.

Buddy is Wendy’s dog. She dragged me to a few kennels to look for a companion after she lost Lily. Buddy sat at this kennel for two months when his dog dad didn’t reclaim him. Like a house on the market or someone still on tinder, we gave him a swipe.

Buddy tried to impress us, sitting on his food mat, run and jump from the couch to the chair, like the floor was lava, sat on arm rests, or squeeze into small areas so he’d look funny. I wonder about his back story. It was like we got Buzz Lightyear and we didn’t know how to tell him there was no Zurg, oxygen here is safe, or he’s not really flying. After all, he was suppose to be 12. And he had the energy of a 2 year old puppy. He sat up straight, like he could balance things on his chin, pointed with his nose like he’s a Filipina mom. “Hey, see that bike over there? Bring it here, I want to balance that on my chin.”

I had reservations. Didn’t really give him a shot. Buddy barked at me when I got up from a chair (like he’s telling me to sit back down) and growled and tried to bite me. I started looking at other places that was willing to rescue me. I watched Youtube videos about behaviors and came to the conclusion in a short month, he didn’t respect me. Unless I ate from his bowl and left him the leftovers to demonstrate I was alpha and I wasn’t ready for this kibble diet.

Then, one day, when I was sleeping, he walked into my room, jumped the two foot tall plastic hamper, and slept on my dirty clothes. Buddy called a truce. Every morning since he’d scratch the door (or knock). Sometimes twice like I hit snooze. He learned the door didn’t latch, it took two front paws to open. When I was ever upset, he would break in and check on me. During the pandemic, he would sit underneath my chair when I was on zoom for hours. Then he came in and lured me out to sit and watch tv with him.

When Buddy got a timid senior sister, he showed her how to jump on/off the couch, the best sun spots in the house, and how to be brave. Even shared his water bowl and snausages. She used him when she was scared by hiding behind him. Sometimes crawl on top of him. Ever see that Togo’s commercials when one dog distract the couple and the other dog snatched the sandwiches? That’s them. When he would bully her thinking no one was looking, I saw me and my brother. Unlike my brother, she never ratted him out. It was hard seeing him Benjamin Button that evening pointing up taking short breaths. I want to be mad at something but I don’t know what.

Our time may have been a short two years but I learned to appreciate the lessons he taught me, be there for others, seeing goodness when people don’t want to give them a chance with empathy and compassion. Mornings and putting my key in the door or getting up from my chair will never be the same. But I am ever grateful to experience the opportunity to miss him if I didn’t give this guy a shot. Thanks for being awesome at keeping secrets.

Two toot salute, Buddy.