Tuesday, November 20, 2007

He Was a Good Dog

It's been a sad, sad day: Cody died in his sleep, in Fellow Traveler's arms, this afternoon while I was at work. We'd known that this day was coming sooner rather than later, and I had prepared myself for it more than once; but it was still a shock.

He hadn't been sick. But he had seemed more groggy than usual this morning, and FT called me after lunchtime to say that he'd wanted to cuddle in her lap, in one of his favorite blankets, and that his breathing seemed to be getting slower and slower. Then she called back and said, "He's gone." (At which point I in my befuddlement thought, "Gone? Gone where?")

I remember praying, during one of his previous bouts with illness, that when it was his time to go it would be peacefully, in his sleep, not suffering and not afraid. And that is exactly what happened.

Here's a picture of Cody up in Empire, exploring an old homestead in the Oneida preservation area. He was a good dog, a dog with heart, a dog who loved his life very much -- loved his human and animal friends, loved his burgers and chicken, loved his trips in the car. His 17 years on this earth were a gift, to him and to us, and we miss him very much.

23 comments:

Mike Farley said...

Oh, LC, I am so sorry! Our dear Mable was 17 when she died last Easter, and I still miss her every day.

Praying for you and FT, and for Cody's little furry essential dogness, whom you'll meet again, I truly believe.

zorra said...

Oh, I am so sorry! What a good dog, and what a full life. I am sure you were as much of a blessing to him as he was to you. I pray for comfort and consolation for you and FT.

Sheryl said...

I'm so sorry for your loss. I'll be praying for you and FT.

don't eat alone said...

I'm really sorry. I know your pain well and will hold you both close in my prayers.

Peace,
Milton

Anonymous said...

I, too, am so, so sorry. May the good and faithful Cody rest in peace. Praying for all the two and four legged animals grieving in your home tonight.

Jules said...

So very sorry...

David said...

Very sorry to hear this news. Prayers for you and FT.

j said...

To this day, I cannot tell the story of my childhood dog dying (when I was home on break from college) without crying. There's nothing quite like this kind of loss. I'm so glad that Cody died in FT's arms, snuggled and held and all right. But I am so sorry for the both of you and your loss.

Peace and prayers to you.

LutheranChik said...

You know, we had a kind of wake for Cody last night, sharing funny stories about him -- his prodigious appetite (he was such a fixture at the local McDonald's drive-through that his "burger lady" there was genuinely upset to hear that he'd died), his in-charge, "Mr. Man" demeanor, his sweet relationship with Mollie the cat, his rough-and-ready, "So what are we doing today?" attitude every morning. No one in my family, either two- or four-legged, has had such an easy death before; it's just a whole 'nother thing to be sad but not devastated.

Meanwhile, though, Cassie has been very quiet and sad. We have a large teddy bear -- I'll call him "Underwear Bear," because he wears a pair of FT's son's briefs -- that Cody took a shine to, and always slept between the legs of; this morning when Cassie got up she came into the living room and curled up on the sofa with her head on Underwear Bear.

Jody Harrington said...

I'm so sorry, LC. I like to think Cody and our beloved Gretel are now romping together somewhere. Even if that doesn't really fit my theology of dogs.

LutheranChik said...

We're hoping he's also romping with his old pal Katie, who preceded him over the Rainbow Bridge this summer.

Susie/Nueva Cantora said...

Oh, I'm so sorry.

Kathryn said...

...and with my lovely Maisie too.
I'm so sorry, LC...it does hurt hugely I know.
Much love and many hugs to both of you - and Cassie too.

Pink Shoes said...

Peace to you.

Tom in Ontario said...

I'm sorry LC. I've never been a pet person and never formed any emotional attachment to any animals but I've seen how attached many people do get to their pets and know that it hurts to lose them.

Hugs and sympathy from me.

Shalom

Anonymous said...

I know how this is. I'm so very, very sorry and holding you in my heart.

((LC, FT, Cody))

chartreuseova said...

I always enjoyed reading about Cody and will miss that. And I'm crying now.

I'm so sorry.

Mata H said...

Awww LC ...I hope my beloved old boxer doggie-boy, Argos, is greeting him. I do believe that dogs have eternal souls and that we will see them again someday. My heart goes out to you and FT, and I am thankful that Cody had a gentle passing into the next life. You gave him the gift of a good life. He did not have to worry about food, shelter, warmth and love. And that is a very fine gift indeed. May God send comfort to the 4 and 2 legged folks who are missing him right now.

((((hugs))))
-Mata

Unknown said...

I'm so sorry for your loss, but thankful the end came quietly as you had hoped, and that he was not alone.

Trish said...

I'm sorry to hear that Cody died. I will keep you all in my prayers. Thanks for also sharing with us a bunch of happy memories. It's good to know that you are grieving, but with thanksgiving. Peace to you.

Cecilia said...

Prayers for you in your loss.

Pax, C.

Dr. Laura Marie Grimes said...

So sorry to hear of your grief, and glad about the informal wake in Cody's honor.

Reverend Dona Quixote said...

Oh dear, LC and FT, so sorry I missed this bit of news ... and so very sorry for your loss. OTOH, I can't think of a better way for a beloved animal friend to leave this world for the next.