Asher

It’s A Damn Shame

by  • 

Nellie

It feels like somebody ripped my heart out. Our sweet little Nellie got called across the bridge and we’re left here at Asherpark missing her terribly.

Mom told us the day would come when Nellie would have to leave us. There were so many close calls, we were lucky to have her as long as we did.

Nellie had three vertigo attacks. The last one put her in the hospital and then she couldn’t eat or drink on her own for two weeks.

After the vertigo Nellie had trouble walking. She stumbled and slipped trying to keep up with the rest of us. Her heart murmur was getting worse, and she had a lump on her chest that was growing fast.

While we worried how she felt or if she was in pain, Nellie took it all in stride. She told me she wanted to live as long as she could because the food was so yummie at Asherpark. Then she smiled real big so I would know she was joking.

One day Nellie lost her balance and fell face first into the flowers. I quick ran over to see if she was okay. Nellie slowly got her feet under her and stood up with some weeds hanging off her ear. She asked me if I’d sit with her in the shade so we could talk.

I was happy to do anything Nellie asked me, so we wandered off to a shady spot away from the other mutts. Pretty soon Nellie was talking up a storm.

“Ash, you’ve always had a good life,” Nellie said. “You were chosen as a puppy, brought to a loving home, fed good food, and cared for like you were a prince.”

“It wasn’t like that for me,” Nellie said. “I had a person once. I think I was loved when I was little. Then something bad happened. I had to live outside and nobody paid any attention to me.”

“Were you scared, Nellie?” I asked.

“At first I was, but then I kinda gave up and got used to being ignored.” Nellie said.

For a while Nellie was quiet. She looked at her paws with the swollen joints and lowered her head.

“Ash, the best thing that ever happened to me was getting lost. I got picked up as a stray, taken to a shelter, and told I was gonna die.” Nellie said

“But then your Codie came to me,” Nellie continued. “Codie told me my life would be spared and I would go to Asherpark. Codie said I would be incredibly happy at Asherpark.”

“Are you happy here with us at Asherpark?” I asked.

Nellie laughed and licked her paw. “I’m beyond happy, Ash. I wish I could live forever. I never want to leave Asherpark.”

Neither one of us knew what to say next. I knew in my heart that time was running out for Nellie. She knew it too.

Pretty soon Nellie straightened her head and looked at me with her beautiful soft face. I loved that she has one blue eye like me and one brown eye like Codie.

“Ash, when my time comes you have to promise to be brave. I want you to be right next to me when Codie comes to get me,” Nellie said.

“Nellie, I promise I will be with you to the very end,” I said.

Last Saturday it was time to keep my promise. Nellie had a seizure. We rushed her to the emergency room. The doctor said there was nothing we could do to save Nellie. It was time to let her go.

I stood real quiet in the room. I knew if I looked at Nellie I would burst into tears.

Nellie was the brave one. She thanked mom and dad for loving her and taking such good care of her. As the vet pushed the medicine into her IV line, Nellie winked at me. She whispered she would come back soon and tell me what it was like to cross the bridge with Codie as her guide. Then she was gone.

Her little body looked so peaceful, like she was sleeping. But no matter how hard we cried, she wouldn’t wake up. It was awful to walk out of the hospital and leave Nellie behind. It was a damn shame she couldn’t go home with us.

Good bye Nellie. I will never forget you. Never.

 

 

 

 

 

Nellie

Farewell

by  • 

Nellie

It all happened so fast. I had a real nice day on Saturday. Mom hung out with me in the studio and we had some special quiet time together.

Saturday night I ate another yummie meal with my favorite pumpkin mix to keep my poops nice and solid.

We went to bed as usual. I followed mom into the bedroom and lay down next to her side of the bed. Lately mom has been draping her old flannel shirt over my shoulders just to make sure I stay warm.

Around 3am I started thrashing around. I’ve done this before for a few seconds, but this time it just went on and on. Mom quick turned on the light and saw I was having a seizure.

I don’t remember much about the seizure except I couldn’t stop from kicking my legs. I felt mom’s hand on my neck and heard her telling me to take a deep breath and don’t be scared.

When I stopped thrashing around mom lifted me up and carried me to the big rug where I couldn’t hurt myself by crashing into something.

I was all confused. I kept looking around for mom when she was right in front of me. Finally the world stopped spinning and I was able to lie still.

I felt something warm and wet dripping onto my snout. I asked mom was it raining? She laughed and said no, it was her tears.

When I looked up Ash was right next to me. His big blue eyes were soft with sorrow. Ash can’t stand to see anybody suffer, but he’s especially protective of me. It’s the blue dog thing.

I felt something pinch my spine and I let out a yelp. Then I saw her. Codie was standing right behind Ash motioning for me to stay silent.

“Nellie, I’ve come for you,” Codie said. “It’s your time.”

This was all as Codie had promised two years ago when she saved my life at the dog shelter. She told me she would watch over me and be with me when it was my time to cross the bridge.

While Codie and I were silent talking, mom gave me a shot of morphine to stop the pain. Pretty soon I was totally relaxed and enjoying all the attention.

Mom and dad loaded me and Ash into the car and we drove off into the night. I was wondering how Codie was going to find us, but then I noticed she was in the car too. Funny that only I could see her.

Pretty soon we got to a dog hospital. Two really nice ladies helped mom load me onto a gurney. Mom tucked my favorite quilt around me so I wouldn’t bang my head on the cold table.

The hospital ladies kept saying how pretty and sweet I looked. One asked if I like my food. What a silly question. Of course I do!

The ladies gave me a plate of baby food. It was soooo good. I slurped down every last bite then lay my head down and waited for Codie to lead me over the bridge.

Mom and dad both kissed me good bye and wished me godspeed on my trip. Mom said it had been an honor to care for me and she would cherish the memories of our time together forever.

While mom was cradling my head in her hand, I licked her fingers real gently. I wanted to say thank you one last time and taste the hand that had loved and cared for me these past two years.

Soon the doctor arrived with his medicines. With mom and dad holding me and Ash looking on, the medicine turned out the lights in this world so I could see to cross the bridge with Codie.

I will bark again from the other side, but for now my pack is in mourning and I must stay still. As greatly as they loved me, so will they equally grieve my passing. This is the ancient ritual of humans. In time the terrible sorrow will pass and happy memories will return. I await the time when my people speak my name without sorrow. I hope that time comes soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jack

Jack’s Big Adventure

by  • 

Jack

Few people think I’m handsome. Ash says I have dark and brooding good looks, but I lack confidence and tend to hang back in a crowd. People notice the flashy twins and little Nellie before they see me standing in the background.

Once people get to know me, they like me. I’m affectionate in a quiet way. I never jump on people or scratch them. I don’t bark and carry on like the twins. When visitors sit down, I come over to greet them. They call me Gentleman Jack.

I must have amnesia because I don’t remember much before I came to Asherpark. My rap sheet at the shelter says I lived in a crazy house with druggies and run away kids. There were lots of little dogs in the house along with me and my pal, Butch.

Our vet, Dr. Brad, says the bone under my right eye was broken a long time ago. Maybe that’s why I flinch when anybody reaches to pet me. I don’t remember how it happened. I don’t want to.

My great adventure started on Christmas Eve. My big brother, Dan, came to see me. He works in the city and doesn’t come out very often.

On Christmas eve night I got to sleep in the studio with Dan. It was so nice to have my own person and get all the attention without the competition from the prettier dogs.

On Christmas morning Dan loaded my bed and food into his big truck. All of a sudden I got real nervous. I thought maybe he was gonna kidnap me and take me back to the shelter.

Then mom came out and told me everything was okay. She said it was a Christmas surprise for me and I would spend the entire day in town with Dan. I reluctantly got in the truck, still wondering if something bad was going to happen to me.

When we got to town Dan took me to his apartment. It was nice and warm. There were other people there and a guest dog. I was still scared, but Dan kept telling me everything would be all right.

When the visitors left, it was just me and Dan. We hung out together all afternoon. We watched TV and took walks in the neighborhood. About 5pm Dan warmed up my dinner that he brought from Asherpark. It tasted so good. I fell asleep right afterwards.

When I woke up it was time for my last walk of the night. Dan let me sniff all the pee scents. There sure are a lot of mutts that pee on the street corner where he lives.

Next morning Dan fed me breakfast and drove me back to Asherpark. I felt so important when I got out of his truck. All the other mutts gathered round and sniffed my butt to make sure I was okay. Ash was so happy for me. He said none of the other mutts ever get to sleep over with Dan.

When it was time for Dan to leave, I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to tell him how much it meant to be his special pal. I wanted to say thank you for the best Chrismas I ever had.

Out of nowhere big tears started rolling down my snout. I thought about life before Asherpark, when nobody cared about me and some people were mean to me. Now I have a big brother to look out for me, a big brother who really likes me and wants me to be his special buddy.

Tess ran over to see what was happening. Sometime she can be really nice. She licked my snout and told me she tasted tears of joy. I guess that’s so.

I can’t wait till Dan comes and gets me again. Me and Dan. That’s special.