Friday, November 18, 2011

R.I.P. Precious Puppy Thompson 1998-2011

Rescued by us in that most eventful summer of 2000, this big ol', sad-eyed, wrinkle-faced doofus of a dog really was precious to us in so many ways.


The original goal was not to give the poor abused dog a name but instead to leave that to the folks who would give him a good home eventually. Thus we simply loved on him and told him he was precious. In time we realized we WERE the good home he would have and he simply WAS Precious.

He always met us at the door barking "Oh, you're home, you're home! Huzzah!" One time however, a year or two after we got him, we came in from somewhere and there was no jumping at the door. No barking. I turned the key and we stepped inside to see Precious lying on the couch. He had pulled one of the back pillows from the couch down and was sprawled on top of it rather non-chalantly. The look on his face that one time was more, "Oh. Hehe,...Hi. You're early." Underneath the pillow he was on we could see his twenty pound bag of dog food. Then we saw the rather incriminating trail of same that led directly back to the corner in the kitchen where it had been stored. Apparently, he had chewed through the bottom of the bag in there, decided that was too much trouble and so dragged the whole leaking bag into the living room for munchies. It was way too funny to scold him! If only we'd had a cell phone then.


It was determined that he was part Basenji (he would bound through the back yard in deer leaps!), part Shar-pei and part German Shepherd. The Vet also estimated he was about two when we got him. WE would find out that his original. abusive owners, had called him Tigger because of his bounding leaps. We nursed him back to health and he stayed healthy until cancer and then other problems hit him just in the past couple of years. 

The picture below was taken this afternoon in the car. Precious never had enough car rides in his life. Sometimes he dreaded them. He whined and moaned and shed al over the car seat. Other times, he loved them, dutifully climbing up into the vehicle with a "C'mon, let's go!" attitude! Sadly he didn't feel up to really enjoying this one last car ride. 

 
Goodbye, old friend. We'll always love you.

11 comments:

  1. I share your pain my friend. At times like this I soath myself by saying two things. "He was your dog and you looked after him well. He coudn't have had a better life and he'll be there at the Rainbow Bridge to meet you.

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  2. Anonymous10:22 PM

    I am very happy for you that you got to share so many years with a great pooch. I know you will miss him.

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  3. Epitaph to a Dog

    Near this Spot
    are deposited the Remains of one
    who possessed Beauty without Vanity,
    Strength without Insolence,
    Courage without Ferosity,
    and all the virtues of Man without his Vices.

    This praise, which would be unmeaning Flattery
    if inscribed over human Ashes,
    is but a just tribute to the Memory of
    BOATSWAIN, a DOG,
    who was born in Newfoundland May 1803
    and died at Newstead Nov. 18, 1808.

    When some proud Son of Man returns to Earth,
    Unknown by Glory, but upheld by Birth,
    The sculptor’s art exhausts the pomp of woe,
    And storied urns record who rests below.
    When all is done, upon the Tomb is seen,
    Not what he was, but what he should have been.
    But the poor Dog, in life the firmest friend,
    The first to welcome, foremost to defend,
    Whose honest heart is still his Master’s own,
    Who labours, fights, lives, breathes for him alone,
    Unhonoured falls, unnoticed all his worth,
    Denied in heaven the Soul he held on earth –
    While man, vain insect! hopes to be forgiven,
    And claims himself a sole exclusive heaven.

    Oh man! thou feeble tenant of an hour,
    Debased by slavery, or corrupt by power –
    Who knows thee well must quit thee with disgust,
    Degraded mass of animated dust!
    Thy love is lust, thy friendship all a cheat,
    Thy tongue hypocrisy, thy heart deceit!
    By nature vile, ennobled but by name,
    Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shame.
    Ye, who perchance behold this simple urn,
    Pass on – it honors none you wish to mourn.
    To mark a friend’s remains these stones arise;
    I never knew but one – and here he lies.

    Lord Byron

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  4. We had a Basenji when I was a kid. She was rescued from the local cat and dog home too. We had her for nearly 12 years and she used to bound around the garden. She was aloof and self-possessed; quite un-dog-like!

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  5. Steve: Those pictures radiate "good boy." My heartfelt condolences. My he rest in peace.

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  6. I wept like a child when my dear dog buddy Dude passed on a few years back. Sorry for your family's loss.

    Alberto Ramirez Jr.

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  7. Very sorry to hear your sad news, Steve. They're not just pets, they're family.

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  8. I hope things get better for you and your family in the near future.

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  9. So sorry to hear of your pup's passing on - looks like an absolute sweetheart. Dogs are the best. Maybe their shorter lives are just a reminder to us all that we are here temporarily, and it's best to be friendly, fun-loving, and forgiving while we can be. Our best to you all...

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  10. Anonymous12:45 PM

    god bless him.

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