Ruby Thomas, 8, the beloved bulldog of Mary Ann Van Osdell
and David Thomas died suddenly March 13 at the emergency vet at 1:45 a.m. when
she had trouble breathing and a mass was found in her airway that had presented
no symptoms. Her temperature was 105 degrees. They sedated her and intubated
her. We left from 3:30 to 5 a.m. One of their first memories is Logan Calhoun
saying he loved her puppy breath and a video called Hungry Puppy of how quickly
she ate that we posted on youtube. She had a spot on the top of her head that
we called the on/off button. She loved picking on her much bigger sister, Zoe,
a Lab, who preceded her in death. Ruby drooled, farted and snored, sometimes
sleeping straight up. Our favorite picture is her tongue curled up where she won
second place in The Times Bark Madness contest. She has also been to the Mardi
Gras pet parade with a Really A Tiger sign and a pet blessing at St. Joseph's
Catholic Church. She was loved by all except the mean man who was walking his
dog when she was about six months old and tried to meet his puppy. He called
the police. She would get between Mary Ann and David whenever they were side by
side. David said she truly missed Mary Ann whenever she was out of town,
looking all over for her. Mutual feeling now. Mary Ann took her to obedience
classes at Pet Smart where we used a clicker and a loud
"aahhhhhttttt" and motion they taught. She didn't mind too well, but
knew not to get on the carpet. She would listen at the louvered open doors when
Mary Ann played Christmas carols on the piano. She had cherry eye as a baby and
had started going deaf. She loved barking at the vacuum cleaner and was in an
ad for Oreck because of that. Hours before her death she wanted to attack the
edger. She also barked at a Christmas decoration that played music. Once at the
vet, they thought she had dental work because she ate part of a gutter spout.
She chased neighbor dogs up and down the fence and while boarded, got out of
breath apparently doing the same and had to be rushed to the emergency vet. She
never met a stranger. She acted like she was looking at ghosts often. She is
also affectionately known as Scooby, Rue Rue, Ruester, Pretty Face, Girl Whirl,
Ruby Tuesday, Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town. It was a kinship beyond words.
Sean Dietrich wrote a touching piece about his camping
partner, truck passenger, fishing buddy. "My girl." He was giving a speech in Birmingham after
finding about the death and felt like he was going to puke. He cried in front
of a lot of people. It was not his finest hour. The next day, he woke up
feeling sick. His head hurt from crying. He hadn’t eaten in 24 hours.
Dave Ramsey "has been owned by 10 dogs." He says:
We think we select them. We see them at the shelter, the pet store, the
breeder, or as a stray, and we think we are giving them a home. We think we’re
caring for them, feeding them and paying their vet bills. But that is not how
it really works. They select us. Somehow, they send a dog email to God saying,
“That human needs a dog exactly like me.” And God says, “I agree, but we will
let the human think he picked you.” So, I have been picked, or owned, by 10
dogs in my life. Maggie, the Golden Retriever, died. It was not a predicted
death. It wasn’t a violent death. They just woke up, went to the garage to get
her, and she wasn’t breathing. A family member gone. We baby talk with them and
shorten our syllables to make our point.
He has been owned by dogs that were pretty, dumb, hyper, shed, didn’t,
dogs that would chase a ball, dogs that would catch a Frisbee. And out of all 10,
only one was mean: a crazy Dalmatian that only liked him—no one else. He has
been owned by purebred dogs and pound dogs, and they all chose him and loved
him. Dogs are better than some people. They don’t ask much, they aren’t mean,
they care about your feelings and they can sense when you’ve had a bad day. If
you have had a bad day, it is their job to make it better. He wishes he was
more like that. Truth is, Maggie would do anything to be petted. He wish he had
done that more Saturday. There is a lesson in a life like Maggie’s: wag more,
bark less. Be others-centered instead of self-centered.
Brittany Moore captured her dog's final days. Playing
outside, pats, feasting. So sad.
If you knew your dog might die, there are bucket lists.
God Made A Dog--As a companion, cuddler, snorer, slobberer,
to put costumes on, pull sleds, find bombs, to lead the blind, protect, chase
squirrels, fetch, be a pretty face, lay by a coffin, wait by the train.
Take a Lesson from Them--Sniff, plunge in; you can always
shake it off. Don't be afraid. Stand your ground.
Man Van Dog--Former Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
center Joe Hawley earned over $13 million during his eight-year career. After
being released by Tampa Bay, he retired at 29 and travels with his dog.
Can I Be Your Dog? book-- A floppy-eared mutt on Butternut
Street is on a mission to find his forever home. He writes a letter listing all
of his admirable attributes (he is potty trained and has his own squeaky toy)
to the people in the yellow house. The mail lady delivers Arfy's letter.
Unfortunately, the people turn him down. Arfy keeps trying, writing more
letters delivered by the mail lady. All write him back and decline his offer.
Feeling sad and dejected, Arfy cries himself to sleep in his soggy box. When he
wakes he finds a letter from the mail lady asking to be Arfy's person. Arfy,
full of glee, sprints to the mail lady with his reply letter. Arfy's letters are written in crayon and
signed with a paw print. The last page lists ways readers can help a homeless
animal.
Lost Dogs--Did he run off from a place that held no joy for
him--only pain and deprivation? Did you hope someone would take him? Did he
think at all? If put to death, the good thing is his belly was full and loving
hands held him. The bad thing is he was
much too young and they weren't even your hands.
George Graham Vest served as U.S. Senator from Missouri from
1879 to 1903 and became one of the leading orators and debaters of his time. He
gave a delightful speech while representing a man who sued another for the
killing of his dog. Vest won the case.
Gentlemen of the Jury: The best friend a man has in the
world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he
has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and
dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name may
become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies
away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man's reputation may be
sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The one absolutely unselfish
friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him,
the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog. A man's dog
stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will
sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives
fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that
has no food to offer. He will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounters
with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if
he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take
wings, and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun
in its journey through the heavens. If fortune drives the master forth, an
outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher
privilege than that of accompanying him, to guard him against danger, to fight
against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes his
master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter
if all other friends pursue their way, there by the graveside will the noble
dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in alert
watchfulness, faithful and true even in death.
Poem of a Dog: waits for your car, has your imprint on its senses, your steps have a magic timbre, your voice is music to its ears, your scent is the best, your gaze is a ray of light, your hands are a lightness of peace. I am empty when you go out.
There is so much suffering, pain, fear, loneliness, desperation, wars, disasters, panic, disease, death. Give us one reason we should want to go on. The love of a dog. Pearls Before Swine comic strip
Dogs add spirit to a family. Girl who didn't want one, but got one in COVID.
The dog or five good people? Rex Huppke asks. We don't deserve them. They train us. Love people. Love playing. Love food.
The Family Circus: Daddy goes to work, Mommy takes care of the house, everyone has a job except the dog. But he is a garbage collector, night watchman, referee, exterminator, baby sitter, valet (slippers) and dishwasher.
Woman buys aging mother a puppy. They protect and greet each other. When the human world turns away and others are busy and distracted, a dog is steadfast. The bond is pure and constant. It is emotionally rewarding to love your pet, but we don't have pity for animals we don't see. Cows killed for eating, mice in labs to study for medicine.
Man convinces family to adopt the runt. Names it Rudy like Notre Dame player. He barks after dusk so the vet said to cuddle him before bedtime. A similar scent and touch would reorient him. He plays songs that remind him of the dog hoping they won't be impossible to enjoy when he is gone. Like Feed Jake. It's choosing to give and receive love.
Four friends have never replaced a deceased dog yet. PV, HH,
SO, LF.
