He has been my
friend, my companion, my protector, my family, my sweet baby, and
even my caregiver. Although he scares and intimidates most people who
try to get close to us – well, who try to get close to me – he
only means well. He's just not social, and he's too old to change
now.
Although he is
possessive and jealous, and quick to show his dominance to anyone he
feels is a threat (that would be everyone), to me, he's loving, kind,
caring and totally in tune to my moods, emotions and even physical
health. We've been together for more than 10 years, and I've vowed to
be there for him as long as he needs me, as he has been for me
through all kinds of ups and downs. In a sense, you could say we're
soul mates.
He has the most
beautiful, knowing eyes and the softest hair. However, he is a bit
short, and sometimes walks with a slow limp. Yet, there are times,
when he's still quick on his feet, agile as the athlete he once was,
and even though he now has saddle bags, he's in darn good shape to be
84 years old.
84 dog years,
that is. I'm speaking of my beloved Blue Heeler (Australian Cattle
Dog), Rudy. If you follow me on Facebook, you know all about Rudy,
who gave himself the title “Lord Rudolph” about three years ago.
Sometimes, he's also known as His Lordship, The Grand Duke, Mayor of
Hillcrest or simply King of Every Thing. To me, he's just my Rudy.
People have been urging me to write a book about his life with me now
that he is aging and facing new health issues more and more. I'm
having difficulty writing it, so I'm sharing a bit of him with you
today.
Rudy is so funny
and entertaining. It's a shame he doesn't like or trust other people.
When I adopted him, his vet told me it seemed Rudy suffered from fear
aggression. He can be rough and tough; he is a Heeler, after all. But
some things with him just won't change. For a while, I took him to a
stock farm where he could work off his aggression and attitude by
herding sheep. Actually, he did quite well with little to no
training; it's in his blood. But I found the facility when he was
maturing, and I had to retire him shortly after that. It was just too
hard on his heart.
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| Lord Rudolph, marker painting by Stacey Torres 2015 |
Lately, I've been
bragging about how well Rudy's been doing these last few weeks. In
recent months, he has had all sorts of ailments and mysterious
issues, but we've dealt with them and he always comes through.
Lately, he's been doing great - until late yesterday afternoon.
We were standing
in front of the house -- me pulling weeds, while he chewed on his
favorite tall grass. However, when I turned to give him a treat, I
noticed he was sitting on the lawn with a puzzled look o his face.
His back right leg seemed to be in a cramp, and his right paw was
clearly hurting him. I didn't see what happened, so I don't know if
he fell, stumbled, or if it was just a cramp, spasm, or maybe even a
seizure. It took him a long time to get up. After that, he seemed
okay, but was limping badly and couldn't get into the car for a trip
to the park. Since he already has a weakened (arthritis) back right
leg, his right side wouldn't support him.
So, I'm treating
him gently with heating pads and little massages -- and mindfully
being vigilant. There's not much else to be done when these things
happen. He's been to the vet so often lately, and that's always
traumatic for him, i.e., “doggy Valium,” a muzzle and just
chaotic stress. So, I limit his visits to his wellness checks and
emergencies. Rudy is just like any other 84 year old man (or woman) I
suppose. I'll continue to watch, nurture, love and pray for him.
This morning, my
little guy appears to be a little better. His appetite is still
hearty; eating like he's in training for a Sumo match, and his limp
is fading more into a careful strut. He is still a trooper, still
brave and proud and hilarious as ever, barking at the stove, which
means “cook something!”
As so many other
people who love their furry family members deal with a sweetly aging
pet, we all dread the day when we ultimately must say goodbye. I've
experienced this life event with a few other dogs; each one is as
excruciating as the other. But each one left me with a tremendous
store of happy memories and absolute love and devotion. My prayer is
that Rudy remains with me in peace and comfort for a good while
longer. But his happiness and quality of life are key. For now, he's
just like me, ripening with rich maturity in a very special way –
with aching joints that crackle, pop and snap like breakfast cereal.
But we're still here – moving forward and adapting to this
wonderful changing life day by day. God sent him to me, and I'm
cherishing and taking good care of my gift.
Originally published in The Courier-Times, New Castle, IN, May 29, 2016
