World Pet Memorial Day

June 9.  Today is World Pet Memorial Day.  This is the day we remember all those pets that have gone on…to a peaceful place.  It’s the one hard thing about humans having dogs as pets – you generally outlive us.  The oldest living dog according to the Guinness Book of Records lived to over 29 years.   THAT’S amazing.

I’ve already written about Compartments of the Heart (February 2) so I won’t go into all the thoughts, feelings and emotions that go with losing a pet.  Once upon a time, people used to say “it’s just a pet.”  Now we know that the loss of a pet can be just as tragic and hard as losing a human.  So instead of memorializing each of my human’s pervious dogs – with sad notes, I thought it would be good to tell you something bad that each one did.  Just to lighten the subject…

Barney.  A terrier-cross who ALMOST looked a bit like a PON.  Barney came from the pound.  And they called him “the Biter.”  And my human, never one to be deterred by a challenge, took him home.  And yes.  He bit her.  But they learned to live together and respect each other.  He loved to the age of 17 ½.  One favorite bad story….One time when my human was going out of town, she left Barney with her sister.  Barney was an escape artist.  So escape he did – he took off out the door and ran to the neighbor’s house.  He promptly went into their vegetable garden and pooped – while they were having a BIG outdoor party.  My human’s sister raced to get him and grabbed him – apologizing profusely.  She dragged him back up the stairs to her second floor flat – only to realize in her haste to run after him, she had left the water running in the sink.  Yup – she flooded the kitchen.    She didn’t dogsit for Barney much after that.

Schubert.  My human’s first Bernese Mountain Dog.  My human thought Bernese were supposed to be big.  So she fed Schubert a lot.  Only to realize he wasn’t big.  He was FAT.  Schubert went on the pumpkin diet and lost 20 lbs!!!!!  In Schubert’s first obedience show, he jumped out of the ring and left the building.  Maybe he wasn’t quite ready for competition?!  Anyway, he sadly only loved until 3 ½  - he died of cancer…

Beamish.  The poop eating Yellow Labrador Retriever.  He TOTALLY believed in recycling.  One time he ate poop and several hours later went in the closet and threw up in my human’s shoes.  He was also super friendly – once during a trial for his Working Certificate, he went to visit the guys who throw the ducks – rather than come back to my human with his duck.  My human repeatedly called him and finally in a bit of desperation, she shouted “Remember me – I feed you!”  He then returned AND they actually passed the test!  He loved to 11.

Guinness.  Another Bernese Mountain Dog.  Guinness was an EXTREMELY friendly dog.  He would make friends with ANYONE.  But his way of showing affection was to gnaw on your arm.  Or your hand.  Every time my human’s father visited, he inevitably ended up with bruises on his arm – because Guinness was so happy to see him.  Guinness loved to 9 ½.

Harper.  Another Bernese Mountain Dog.  Harper was smart.  Very smart and obedient.  Except – like Paxton, he liked to eat “other things”.  He was the one who ate a bunch of stuff – and he required surgery.  When the Vet revealed a clear bag with the contents, my human asked if there was a prize – of a free surgery.  No such luck.  Harper loved to 7.

Note in my stories I said each dog loved and not just lived.  Despite our sometimes bad behavior – we DO love you humans – and we know, you also love us.   So on this Pet Memorial Day – do not be sad – but be happy for all those loving moments – no matter how many years you shared them.  Think of them and smile.  And also, take a moment today to think of all those dogs who serve in police departments and the military and who have given their lives for our protection and freedom.  To them we owe thanks – many thanks, indeed. 

© Linda Wozniak