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When our dogs die
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Surviving a pet’s death is never easy. Before I got Rufus, my red smooth miniature dachshund, I received a betta fish as a gift to prepare me for a small breed dog. The deal I made with myself was if I could keep the fish alive for a year, I could consider transitioning to a dog. I am happy to report that my red betta fish, JC, lived for 5 years and when he died it was sad. I was at his fish bowl when it happened. He came up for one last gulp of air and then he past. I know that sounds crazy, but it is true. Anytime you care and love for something or someone, I imagine it is very hard to lose him even a fish.
Walking Rufus is much easier than carrying that fish bowl around the block, and the love between man and dog is very special in my opinion. They call a dog man’s best friend for a good reason I think, because a lot of the time our dogs do become our best friends. Rufus is still fairly young and healthy by all reports, but in the last year I have had a few friends lose their dogs prematurely.
To lose a dog after many years due natural causes might be a little easier for some folks. To lose a dog to an ailment like cancer or disc disease at age 7 or 9 when our small breed dogs can live to 15 years is probably harder or at least that has been my impression. I also had a friend lose a dog last year after many wonderful years together and the owner was happy that she was no longer suffering since she lived a long fulfilled life. He commented that it was her time and they had many fond memories to carry them through the rough patch.
The memories and keepsakes are what I hope will get me through it when Rufus’ time comes. I naturally hope we still have several more years together, but I do not live in denial. I know Rufus will most likely leave this earth before I do, and when that day comes it will be probably one of the hardest days of my life. How could it not be? He is my first dog as an adult who I raise from a puppy.
Pictures, photo albums, custom T-shirts, stationary, refrigerator magnets or other fun items from Café Press, Shutterfly and other online services are excellent for these personalize mementos of your dog. I have 5 Rufus T-shirts, one magnet and 3 professional portraits of Rufus which I proudly display in my home. A friend even painted a likeness of Rufus using oil and canvass which I adore.
At some point in your dog’s life I completely recommend scheduling a professional photo shoot with the pet photographer of your choice. I have thousands of pictures I took myself with my digital camera which I have used for my many photo albums, T-shirts and emails, but it is nice, at least once, to have a professional portrait taken of your dog for prosperity. I even had a neighborhood kid draw a portrait of Rufus.
In Los Angeles, I recommend three pet photographers: Seth Casteel from Little Friends Fine Art Pet Photography, Melissa Kobe from M. Kobe Photography and Andy Stolarek from Furtographs Pet Portraiture. All three photographers are able to achieve some great results from our dogs and pets. I have personally seen all of their work and fondly recommend them for your pet portraits.
The sad truth is our dogs will die. Small breed dogs typically live long lives. At the end of the day, no one never really knows for certain how long we have with our darling dogs so remember to cherish each day with them.
This article is dedicated to Carson the dachshund and Maggie the French bulldog; both dogs were taken from their humans too early.
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Oil and canvass portrait of Rufus painted by Hannah C. Grischke.
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