Category: Golightly Dogs

After a long, draining battle with cancer, Tilly had her final chemo treatment today. This epic journey started on Good Friday when she lost her appetite. A mis-diagnosis resulted in a month of her barely eating while we treated incorrectly. When we finally had the good sense to get a second opinion, we were devastated by the news that she had stage 4 lymphoma.

But how privileged are we to live less than a mile from a veterinary practice with an oncology specialization? How fortunate that we are avid savers and able to afford five months of treatment for our beloved, sweet girl? This is not lost on us, and we are grateful. So very grateful.

Just as I did the first time, when I picked Tilly up after her treatment today, I cried a little. Throughout treatment, techs and our wonderful vet have raved about Tilly’s sweet nature, her patience during treatment, her empathy. The tech who discharged her told me they all said good bye to Tilly today, that it was a bittersweet day for them. That tender, warm care is one of the many reasons we are fans of this practice.

And having had all this time with Tilly when we thought we would lose her is priceless. For the first time since April, I feel at peace. Sure, she will leave us some day. But for now, thanks to science and wonderful care, our Tilly is in remission. She’s looking good, feeling strong, enjoying life.

In the end, that’s all we want for our loved ones, for everyone: a chance to be healthy, feel strong, and enjoy life. I wish it for you, dear reader, and I hope you’ll raise a glass in celebration with us. Here’s to life.

If you love a dog, you’ve probably learned everything on this list, too.

1. Don’t bother to fuss. Just get down to business. Maddie could do her business anywhere in the yard or woods. No persnickety miss there.

2. Good food is worth singing about. Every meal = a song. A loud, soulful song. You never had to wonder about her feelings towards food.

3. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it won’t kill you. Who knows what’s under that pile of leaves or behind the firewood? Why not take a look? Just be careful of porcupines and skunks!

4. A deep, deep sigh of contentment makes you feel even more content.

5. Vie for the best sleeping accommodations. A good rest solves a lot of problems.

6. Keep an eye on the rest of the pack. Even if you don’t like them.

7. Never be too cool to show your love.

8. Make up your own rules for the game. May as well play the game you want to play, not the one someone else is forcing on you.

9. When your favorite people walk in the door, make a big, huge deal about it. Every. Single. Time.

That list is my way of avoiding writing this: on Sunday, we unexpectedly lost our beloved Maddie.

Within an hour of noticing she was having problems breathing, we learned she had a tumor on her heart that had ruptured. The treatment options offered by our vet left  no expectation of giving her quality of life, and so we made the decision to let her move on before she suffered.

I like to imagine she’s entered a world where there are always balls to be chased, always a pond in which to swim, always branches to drag around, always squirrels to yell at, always a loving lap on which to drape. From the moment I adopted her in Albuquerque, she was my pal. I feel fortunate to have known her and been the recipient of her exuberant love.

Play hard in your afterlife, my sweet mutt.

 

Not pictured here: dog tongue.

I’ve learned to laugh with my mouth closed. It’s safer with an affectionate dog.

Born in New Mexico, my Maddie (short for Madrid) can't help but be a fan of the Lobos.  Some days she is so stinking cute that I forget about the chipmunk-killing-poop-eating side of her.

She may be older than the adorable Olive, but Coco feels that Mr. Jeffries (her no-longer-secret crush) should not squander all of his affections on a mere pup.  To entice him, she asked me to post  her recent bathing beauty photo.  If this doesn't catch his eye, she may resort to sending him half-dead beetles with which to amuse himself, or perhaps even a few slugs in which to roll and achieve that je ne sais quois she adores.

She even plans to donate to the Red Scarf Fund to prove her affection.

Lovely Elisa of Concateknit is running a contest.  For every five bucks (the price of a large fancy coffee drink, people) you donate to ARF, her pet charity organization (couldn't resist the pun), she'll enter you in a contest for really fabulous prizes.  But, please, don't win the Chevron Cowl kit.  That's what I've got my fingers crossed for!

During a photo shoot for my yarn earlier in the year, Spring took this shot of Maddie, the birthday girl.  Even though the dogs have been on my nerves all week (mainly Coco, who has taken a step back in her house breaking), I'm grateful to have them in my life.

Less than a month after I moved to New Mexico, I adopted Maddie from a no-kill shelter.  My oldest sister was visiting me, and we were headed for a day in Santa Fe.  We stopped at Starbucks for a chai to take on the ride, and as MB ordered, I perused the dogs that lined the sidewalk.  Maddie (then named Tickle) stopped me in my tracks.  I hemmed and hawed, MB sat patiently on a folded chair and made her "I'm not going to tell you what to do" face, and before long, Maddie was in my arms in the back seat of the car as MB drove us back to the apartment.

For the first two weeks, I cried almost every day. Despite Neal's warning that dogs are a lot of work, I had no idea what he meant.  I wanted to give Maddie back; the only thing that stopped me was knowing that I would lose Neal's respect if I did.  Then one day on a walk around the complex, Maddie barked at a stranger who approached me.  He was a new neighbor, but one she didn't know, and she was ticked off that he dared come near.  I told Neal about it that night, a little embarrassed by her behavior.  He said, "She's bonded to you.  She wants to protect you." From that moment on, I knew that we were a pair, me and Maddie.  I learned to adjust my schedule, going to bed early so I could be cheerful at her 5:00 wake up nudge, staying home from parties so she wouldn't be alone.  During the big hailstorm that fall, she snuggled up to me, just as scared, I think, as I was.  When my first husband called to tell me our divorce was final, she licked the tears from my face. 

I love my other dogs, no doubt, but Maddie is my first dog, the dog I had as a single woman.  She'll always have a special place in my heart, even when she's misbehaving.  Happy birthday, chica!