Lucky

Lucky
April 1, 1991 – September 30, 2005

When my first dog, Puggy, arrived, I was only 5 and too young to help raise her. Mickey came to us at mid-life. We adopted Max as an adult as well.

But Lucky (also known as Yodel for her barking style) came to us as a squirming parasite-and-scabies infested ball of puppy when I was 18. Once she learned not to pee all over me, I took the bread-crust-colored dog everywhere. To the pizza place a few blocks away. To the corner to wait for John’s bus. To the bank. To Burger King. To Taco Bell.

In addition to the rote sit, shake, down, stay, playe dead, she had some other cute tricks in her arsenal. If you rolled a ball to her, she would roll it back to you with her nose. She could turn on the touch-lamp by herself. One time as a pup she picked up the Frisbee to run it back to us. Halfway across the yard, the far end of the frisbee hit the ground and stuck. Lucky went toppling over it like a pole vaulter.

She never got the hang of frisbees.

She tolerated Noelle and watched over Misty like a hawk. She and Mickey were relatively the same age, and were pals. By the time we got Max, Lucky was content to lay and rest while she watched him spin out of control.

At her mid-life I moved out. She was still my dog after that, but more Mom and John’s dog.

The years are much more cruel to our loving companions than they are to us.

• Arthritis? No problem..very treatable. Here’s a pill.
• Leaky bladder? No problem…very treatable. Here’s a pill.
• Failing kidneys? Could be bad..but we can keep them where they are. Here’s a pill and some special food.
• Slow thyroid? Very treatable. Here’s a pill.
• Worms? Older dogs have trouble fighting off the pests. Here’s some pills.
• Hair loss? Looks like a skin infection. Older dogs have trouble fighting off the pests. Here’s a pill.
• Seizures? We don’t know.
• Failing liver? ….

One day you turn around and that these individual ‘no problems’ have joined forces to make a very old dog. Last night Lucky hung on long enough for me to rush to the Vet from work to say goodbye.

We knew that this last spring/summer cycle would be her last. Somehow, that doesn’t lessen the sadness.

I miss you, Yodel. Say hey to Mick-Mick and Belly for me at the Rainbow Bridge.

I have no more words…