| Friday, April 04, 2008 |
| A good dog |
The last photo ever taken of Hobie: 2/26/08
I was not a dog person. I had never had a childhood pet, due to my family's frequent trips to visit relatives overseas. But being self-employed is sometimes lonely, and I thought it might be nice to have a dog, who would keep me company and get me out of the house a few times a day when he needed to go for a walk.
Joe and I visited a college friend of his who had two lovable Boston terriers. My dad had owned a Boston when he was a boy, and the more I read up on the breed, the more I became convinced that a Boston would be a good dog for me. I placed a notice on Craigslist asking if anyone could recommend a breeder or rescue group. A woman named Linda Beenau responded to my e-mail. She said her organization, WonderDog Rescue, had a couple of dogs available. She sent a photo of Hobo, and I wasn't sure I wanted him because he wasn't a true Boston. In fact, no one had any idea what exactly he was. There was probably some Boston in there, and maybe some chihuahua or bulldog. Hobo had been a stray and was rescued from an animal shelter. There was no way of telling how old he was or what his earlier life had been like.
Nevertheless, he seemed like a lovable, mellow dog, and the idea of adopting an older canine with none of that puppy wildness seemed like a good idea, particularly since we lived in an apartment and didn't have immediate access to the outdoors. We renamed him Hobie, and during our early weeks together, I wasn't sure I was cut out to be a dog owner. I took him to the dog park at Pt. Isabel and had to keep him on a leash because he wasn't under voice control; I didn't want him to run off and disappear. All the other dog owners seemed so confident, like they knew exactly what to do with their pets. I just felt that I had this willful little creature on the other end of the leash and didn't know if we would ever truly bond.
Before Hobie came home with us, Joe and I had purchased a comfy dog bed for him and put it next to our own. We tried to get him to sleep in it, but he'd just leap back onto our bed, no matter how many times we put him back on the floor. Eventually we gave in, so from the start, he always slept in the big bed. His preferred place to lie was right between us, in the center of his "pack." He usually woke us up around 7:45, and we called him our Hobe-larm, since we didn't need to bother with a regular alarm clock.
Despite the rough beginning, I grew to depend on his calm presence in my life. He slept in his dog bed or crate while I worked in my office. I never did take him back to the dog park, because he didn't particularly care to play with other dogs; he liked to take slow walks, sniffing everything in sight. The only thing that really got him riled up was a big yellow Lab named Miles who lived in our condo complex. Whenever he caught a glimpse of Miles, or even if we rode up in the elevator shortly after Miles had been in it, he would yap and bark and strain at the leash.
Maybe he just didn't like the idea of another dog on his property, and when Joe and I bought a house last year, we joked that we had really purchased it for Hobie. On nice days, I kept the sliding door in my office open and he could come and go as he pleased. He seemed happy to have his own yard. I wish he had been able to enjoy it for more than five short months.
On Monday, he seemed like his old self. I was cleaning and taking laundry up & down the stairs, and he bounded nimbly up after me; I remember wishing he wasn't always underfoot when I was trying to maneuver a big basket of clothes. Now, I just wish I had known it would be our last real day together. I want to hear his little nails clacking on the hardwood floors, and to watch him as he sleeps in the dog bed in my office. I want him to be standing by the front door when I come home from running errands, or wagging his tail with delight whenever we gave him a special treat like popcorn or a bit of pizza crust.
He was always there for me, and I wish I could have been with him when he died. On Tuesday morning, he wouldn't eat; he had a sensitive stomach and that wasn't so unusual, but by Tuesday night, he was having trouble walking and seemed disoriented. Wednesday morning, I took him to the vet. He had a high fever. They put him on fluids and had me transfer him to an emergency facility in Berkeley that could keep him for observation overnight. On Thursday, he went to see a specialist in Concord. They put him on oxygen and did further tests. He had an enlarged liver, and possibly a brain tumor that was causing the neurological problems. We decided to keep him in the facility overnight so he could stay on oxygen, and call Friday morning for an update. Instead, we got a call during the night that he had passed away peacefully. He always hated being confined in a cage, and I hope he was so out of it that he didn't feel too lonely and miserable. I wish I had been holding him close to me. Yesterday, I had thought maybe we could bring him home so he could end his life in the company of those who loved him, but it was not to be.
I've had many friends who have had to watch their dogs decline slowly, and finally make the agonizing decision to put their beloved pet to sleep. It's a small consolation that we didn't have to go through that; except for the last three days, Hobie was Hobie until the end. But after seven years, it feels indescribably empty and lonely here without him, knowing that he's gone forever. He was such an important part of my life, a true companion.
If you have a dog, I hope you will give him or her an extra hug today and think how lucky you are to have a cherished pet. I wish I could capture in mere words what made Hobie so special and so loved; he was just my precious boy, and even though the pain of losing him is intense, I wouldn't trade the years we spent together for anything in the world. |
posted by 125records @ 7:44 AM  |
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| 14 Comments: |
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Oh no, oh no -- I am so sad to hear this, and my heart goes out to you and Joe. Hobie was a special guy, and even though I only met him once, he bowled me over with his personality and sweetness.
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Oh, Sue (and Joe) I am so sad to hear this! Please accept my condolences. I didn't get to spend much time with Hobie, but I suspect given the chance he would have convinced me to forget that I'm not a dog person.
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Sue and Joe, I am so so sorry. Hobie was an awesome dog, so full of life and fun, and I like to think that I bonded with him on those occasions when I was visiting. Losing a cherished pet is one of the worst things in the world, and I hope you are both doing okay. May you keep him in your cherished memories forever.
--Rog
And someone who was having trouble posting wanted me to pass this along:
I am shocked and saddened, and offer my deepest sympathy. The world won't be the same without Hobie, our friend. I will light a special candle tonight to honor him and will think of how much I loved seeing him when we visited. He was full of brightness and his memory will always be a source of cheer, although I am so sad he's gone. So sorry for Sue and Joe, who were his perfect dog people.
XO Shalini and Mitch
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What a touching tribute. Condolences to both of you and hats off to Hobie.
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Sue, I offer you a remote hug! It's true that when you work at home having a pet around can really improve your life. I was up late working at night and the cat was being kind of irritating (she always wants to play when I just want to finish and go to bed) but when I woke up and read this I remembered how great it is to have her around. I hope you're OK.
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Lots of love to the both of you from me and Gina. Hobie was such a joyful ball of energy--much, much larger in personality than stature! He will be missed, but he will be remembered with much love.
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Oh, Sue...I spoke to Joe on the phone, but I think I need to wait a couple of days before I speak to you. Tears are running down my old flappy cheeks right now, but I think the photo you posted is the most absolute perfect portrait of the Hobester I've ever seen.You gave him the most wonderful life possible, and he certainly returned that favor many times over. A very fine dog, indeed. Hang in there Sue, out thoughts are with you and Joe.
Gil
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Sue & Joe, we're all sorrow and broke-down-ness on your behalf. Hobie was, is, the best dog. A dog we knew in words and pictures only but still surely knew that... for all the joy he brought you, the ways he expanded your lives. Sue, thank you for creating space for yourself to write such a beautiful and affecting tribute. You could justifiably have burrowed into grief and said nothing instead; nothing yet anyway. Andy and I send you our love and wish all these warm thoughts from your dear friends may bring a little comfort.
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Damn. I am so sorry to hear this. I know you guys loved Hobie, and I know how important a good pet can be to its people. Rose and I send our condolences.
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I was never fortunate enough to meet Hobie, but through your blog I felt I knew him. I enjoyed reading about his exploits — he obviously knew he was well loved. I'll give all four of our dogs a hug for Hobie, and you and Joe will be in my thoughts.
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Oh, Sue and Joe, that is so sad. Really...there are no words, but I offer my condolences. I never met Hobie in person, but you guys really brought him to life in your conversations and blog posts, etc. He was an awesome dog.
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Sue and Joe-
Erica and I offer our deepest sympathies. Like many others here, I never met Hobie in person but totally feel like I knew him. He certainly had quite the following. The important thing was that I know he felt intensely loved during his lifetime, and that's the best thing a little doggie could ever hope for.
-Sharples
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I had a dog just as loving as Hobie that went just as suddenly. I am so sorry for your loss. They are companions you never forget.
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Oh Sue,
What a beautiful tribute to your best buddy. I *know* how special Hobie was.... in part because of the love that he received from you and Joe.
He will always be in our hearts.....
linda
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Name: Sue
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Oh no, oh no -- I am so sad to hear this, and my heart goes out to you and Joe. Hobie was a special guy, and even though I only met him once, he bowled me over with his personality and sweetness.