Let me tell you a story of a little Yorkie named Truman. I
don’t know if he ever made it on my blog previously, and I do realize it’s been
over two years since I blogged, but this little pup was there through many of
the events on my blog and plays a big part in my yet to be published second
book.
Truman started out as my brother’s dog and then eventually
ended up with my mom. They were a perfect match as Truman was about the most
loving dog you could meet. I remember in my college comp 101 class we were
told, “Never put human traits to an animal” but Truman was an exception; you
could see him think. He would hide something and my mom could say, “go find it”
and he’d tilt his little wookie face, look behind him, and then in a flash go
fulfill the task at hand.
Truman played a big part in the episode I called “Aaron vs. the Horse”. Hitting a horse is never fun, it’s even worse when already going
through a crisis about life and death. When I returned to my mom’s house I was
cut up badly and after getting the glass out of my wounds I went back to sleep
and just before I dozed off I felt the little ball of fluff plop down beside
me. This was the start of something and my mom may debate this, but I may have
said Truman ended up as my mom’s dog but anytime I was around Truman was my dog.
He was boundless in his love. That’s all he was, except that
one time he bit the owner’s daughter of 61 Kartways back in 2008, but besides
that Truman didn’t know how to be mean. Sure, he barked at any bunny that dare
cross the path of his window, and squirrels? Oh, they got a stern barking at,
but other than that the only thing that dog wanted was to make those around him
feel loved and accepted.
Pets are funny creatures; do they need us or do we need
them? In my life I’ve struggled with this question because, yes, we feed them
but in this world how many people experience true acceptance from another?
Truman had a habit of going after my ears (another thing started the day I hit
the horse) and one time I got a little harsh with my tone with him and his
response? He did a 360 and came back for more. Maybe he couldn’t take a hint,
but that dog… that dog was love.
Love is a word I don’t use lightly in regards to others. I
don’t know really what it is. Read Finding Kansas and with Emily I struggled
with the word and meaning, but the chapter about having to have my cat
Amsterdam put down? Love was mentioned strongly. I say this because coming back
to my sister’s house on Monday from working a SKUSA race with my nephew in Salt
Lake City a week ago my sister sat us down and said, “I’ve got something to
tell you and it’s not fun. Truman got very sick on Saturday and mom had no
choice. He’s gone.”
He’s gone… It was now 48 hours after the fact and it was
probably best to wait and tell us as working a race on track is intense and
distractions could prove to be catastrophic, but the little pup that lived well
beyond the average expectancy was now gone… Gone.
Each Christmas I see my mom and every year as I leave I
meant to hug Truman real tightly because I’ve feared this day for the past five
Christmases and that fear was finally realized. Unlike my pets that I’ve had to
make the choice to have put down I didn’t get that final goodbye. My mom did
and that had to be crushing because Truman was a special dog. Nothing can
prepare a person for a loss of a pet whether you have it in your house or only
steal the dog on family visits. He somehow knew how to communicate with us
though; through my hard times he was there exactly how I needed him and in the
past month before his final illness he showed signs to my mom of the way he was
a decade ago. He got out toys long since retired. Sure, he didn’t spend all day
with Mr. Duck but he fought the good fight with that stuffed animal and won.
Whether or not you believe animals communicate with us doesn’t matter to me
because I know they do. Each of my three animals did and Truman showed glimpses
of his former self. He gave that one last dance, that last bark, and I’m sure
that last ear lick and wherever he maybe I know he’s barking at the bunnies,
squirrels, and if any person walks by, oh my, I feel sorry for them because he’s
now his spry self and no ear is safe.
Truman puppy, you were amazing and maybe pets exist to
remind us time is limited and that we need to try and love the best we can
because Truman puppy was the essence of love.
I'm so sorry for the loss of your "friend" Truman. Pets are special and can read the people around them very well. My oldest son is on the spectrum, and we had to put our dog whom he was very close to, which he was never loving toward any other pet as he was to Ky(our dog) Sending positive thoughts your way.
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