Lisa, my stepmom, found Griffey one day during my sophomore year of high school. He was standing in the middle of a fairly busy street near our house. No one claimed him. We were very excited to have him in our lives. We soon discovered that Griffey had the tendency to escape and "run away". Probably how he ended up with us. Oftentimes during the summer someone from the Ryle Marching Band would call to say they found our dog Griffey. He was so friendly he just wanted to hang out with everyone.
He was super spunky. He liked to lick ...well... EVERYTHING. He had a favorite toy that made bird sounds.
(My brother, Dustin, whipped up this drawing in a day after Griffey leaving us, isn't it awesome?)
He really loved Lisa a lot. He was a cuddler. He thought he was a guard dog. He was small yet mighty enough to scare the living day lights out of Willis.
Yet he was still like a puppy in some ways. How he felt comforted by sucking on blankets, towels, etc. while kneading them with his paws, kind of like a cat or a puppy feeding off it's mother. It was cute and gross at the same time.
He had bladder cancer for a year or more and was given a very limited time to live but he kept on keepin' on despite the bloody urine and doggy diapers. He lived much longer than we expected with the cancer but that doesn't mean we were ready to see him leave. He was only 8-9 years old.
It's never easy to lose a dog. They are so helpless. And so loving.
I saw this in a blog I was reading the other day and it made me cry. But I'm happy knowing he is no longer in pain.
A Dog’s Purpose
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker’s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, “’I know why.”
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.
He said, “People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?”
The six-year-old continued, “Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Remember, if a dog was the teacher, you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you’re not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. So, love the people who treat you right. Think good thoughts for the ones who don’t. Life is too short to be anything but happy.
Thank you for this blog about Griffey. I really miss all the thing Griffey did but continue to be reminded he is not in pain any longer. Hopper is acting really weird today. She is lookiing for him :( good night we love you.
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