Please Indulge Me

This is my last picture of me with Max. That's my arm. I had just whispered in his ear that Niki had died. He nibbled my left ear. Then, for old times sake, I let him naw on my arm for a bit. He used to do this when he was a tiny puppy, with tiny sharp puppy teeth. I was there when his baby eyetooth fell out.

When Son-in-law and Daughter got Max as a puppy from a shelter, they were both busy with work and school. They weren't married yet, but soon to be Son-in law lived near by. Every morning I would cross the parking lot to pick up Max to spend
the day with 'grandma'. We had fun. Niki loved it! Finally, someone with energy. Max would sleep in a little pile on our tiled hearth. He was always, even as a little puppy, hot.

I only ever had one bad experience with him. That was the night after the wedding. When I tried to put him in his cage, he turned around and snapped at me. THAT never happened again. Grandma was boss.

Shortly after the wedding Max and his family moved to an old farm house on ten acres of land. Deer, birds, small animals abounded there.


There are too many happy memories to list them all. I think Daughter and I need to write a book. It would start out that Max has already died, but would give good reasons for what a blessing a dog can be, even if it is for a short time. The time WAS short, but it was also filled with deep amounts of puppy love that are so embedded in our hearts that he never really will be 'gone' to us.

A beagle mix was soon added to the family. The adventures of Max and Charley are legendary.

Max never got over his love of eating things he shouldn't. Once while cleaning up his poop in the backyard, it was discovered that he had eaten bits of a pepsi can, a sock and a denim toy. This habit is what led to his death. He really did not seem all that sick. Nothing unusual for him. But when he could not keep down water, Son-in-law took him to the vet. He wasn't in any obvious pain. Even pressing on his tummy didn't bother him. But, the x-ray's showed a bowel obstruction.

So many things lined up that looked like he would be just fine. Son-in-law and Daughter did not have money for emergency surgery, but a kind benefactor (who wishes to remain anonymous) put up the cash for the surgery. We are ALL overwhelmed by this act of love. During surgery it was found that there was more then the vet had bargained for. But, Max lived through the first hurdle, the recovery. Daughter, Baby Boy and I went to visit him. He was unresponsive, but we were told that was normal. But, he never really woke up. Even when the meds were stopped, he didn't respond. He developed a fever and an infection. The vet said that another surgery could be tried, but he was not at all optimistic about the outcome. He told Son-in-law that he (son-in-law) had done more for this dog than most people would have. He was with Max when he died, and brought him home to bury him in the new backyard that he loved to be in.

It does all seem so sad. All that time and love invested to raise a puppy to be a great family dog. And, he was.

But, for two years and nine months of nothing but pure love and devotion, how can that not be worth everything?

He was a puppy in a shelter. Son-in-law rescued him. And Max taught us that love is always worth it.

And, you know what God says about love. It goes on forever.

Bye, Max. You will always be missed!