Tribute to My Dog Wilbur

Letting a Beloved Pet Go

I am facing a really tough decision soon. My dog is aging quickly and it is almost time to let him go. I am really having a hard time with this choice. He has lived a full life and is still getting around, but he is now well over 14 years old. I am unsure of his real age. Cataracts on both eyes have severely clouded his vision and he is essentially blind. I talk to him, but he can barely hear me. I see him struggle to focus on where I am. He cannot see me. He cries for me when I am not in the room. I can only imagine what he goes through when I am at work.

He still finds his food dish, eats, drinks, and wanders through the house, but his mobility is slowing. The poor thing only has three legs to work with in the first place and it is evident to me that he needs to go to his rest. He has been a wonderful companion and a true friend to me. He was a great comfort when my life turned sideways and he entered the picture.

I enjoyed his sweet spirit and the love that I felt for him. I looked forward to him greeting me as I walked through the door. This moment has passed now. He waits for me to let him know I am home. When I find him where he happens to be resting in the house, I gently pet him to let him know I am finally with him.  I try to spend a bit of time holding him so that he knows I am with him. He gets uncomfortable quickly so I only sit with him a few minutes at a time. He'll cry a little when he wants my attention again, but it tells me that we are soon to part ways.

Part of the road trips we took this past Fall were to build memories for this dog and me. We camped, fished, and enjoyed our time around the southwest. We ate campfire food and enjoyed nights by the fireside. Wilbur was able to explore all kinds of smells around the places we visited. The bond we have will last beyond this mortal frame. I pray my  female shepherd, Ike, meets him at the top of the rainbow bridge.

The above entries were from yesterday morning. While writing them it occurred to me that it was time to send my friend to his eternal rest. I called the vet's office and scheduled an appointment. As expected, this issue bothered me all night long.

Wilbur enjoying a moment on the grass and a morning sunrise

My Final Minutes with Wilbur

Wilbur was sent into the heavens at about 8:00 am on August 12, 2016. I took the time to spend our last hours in a nice park setting and was hoping he would get up and wander the grass, but it was not meant to be. He could no longer control the movements of his back legs. He chose instead to enjoy laying on the the cool, damp grass.

He enjoyed a Capriotti's Roast Beef sub and a bottle of Dasani water for his last meal. I spoiled this dog rotten because the life he had before me roughed him up terribly. That was his lot in life, I suppose. I am so grateful for the dent he made in my life and in my heart. I really wanted to make his last moments special and they were. My heart ached over this decision. We stayed at the park for about an hour then went to the vet's office.

The staff let me spend our last time in privacy. They were very sympathetic and asked if I needed anything. The doctor came and asked if I had ever done this before and explained what the procedure was like. There would be two shots, one to put him in a sleep state and a second to stop his heart. It would be quick and it would be relatively painless. This reassured me that my Wilbur would not suffer in his final minutes. He had suffered enough in life.

They took him in their back room for just a couple of minutes to insert a catheter tube in his leg for the injections then delivered him back to me wrapped in a blanket. The procedure was quick and I requested to be present for the event. I held and cuddled him while telling him what a blessing he was, crying with every breath and word. When I felt the time was right I called in the doctor and I held him on my left shoulder as he first was put into a twilight sleep and then when the vet stopped his heart. I held him close and whispered I love yous as he was released from his mortal coil.

The peaceful transition allowed me a bit of comfort and I felt I owed it to him to be present for his final minutes. He drifted off softly to sleep and then away in peace. It was a beautiful moment for a beautiful creature.

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~*~  Memorial Gallery  ~*~

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The gallery and storyline is a tribute to this wonderful canine 

affectionately known as Wilbur, the Tripod Dog.

Wilbur Dog - Birthdate unknown - August 12, 2016

What? I'm on the blanket, ok?

A Bit of Our History

Wilbur came to live with me in December of 2013. He is a small dog, but large for a chihuahua. I assume he is Pomeranian and Chi mixed because of his coloring and markings. His temperament is very mellow and he is a quiet dog unless I have been gone for a bit. When I walk in the door, he prances and whines at me that I have been gone foreverrrrrrrrrrrr!! The minute I met this canine I knew we were bonded spiritually somehow.

He is a very good dog. When he came to live with me he was allowed to do anything he wanted as long as he didn't get hurt. His first act of independence was sleeping on the couch. Blankets were tucked into the seating area to take the fall out from his furry body. I accepted that this was where he was comfortable and enjoyed having him on the cushions next to me while I watched my movies.

He was happy there, but had a difficult time getting back down from this height. The added challenge of his missing limb caused some concern. After a time he quit trying to hop up. He wasn't strong enough to pull himself up anymore. A couple of bounces back to the floor convinced him this was no longer an option for him.

He would play occasionally. He'd get all Mr. Fierce Dog if offered a pull toy or a rag to tug. He would play bite at you if you patted his cheeks just right. He was a fun little guy when he wanted to be. Wilbur would prance along on his three feet and keep up with most of the things we needed to take care of. I called him a brave little soul. The courage this fellow took to stay living a normal life in spite of his condition amazed me. Not much stopped him and he went on through the day as though it was not an issue. 

The bear in the video was not harmed...

September Road Trips 

Camping Eagle Valley

Late September I decided that I wanted to go camping. I really didn't have anyone to go with, but Wilbur proved to be a great travel partner.  He would take his seat as co-pilot and ride along with his doggie smiles. He didn't complain about the music or ask are we there yet? He sat in his seat and listened to my ramblings. It was a freedom I had not felt before and an opportunity to spend quality time with my dog.

Our first trip to Mount Charleston inspired 6 successive weekends visiting somewhere different where we could spend time outdoors and enjoy each other's company. These outings are recorded in the blog Prep 1 2 3 as a series titled Camping with a Dog and a Dutch Oven.

Camping on Mt. Charleston with a Dog and a Dutch Oven 
https://preparedness123.blogspot.com/2015/09/camping-on-mt-charleston-with-dog-and.html

Camping with a Dog and a Dutch Oven - part two
https://preparedness123.blogspot.com/2015/09/camping-with-dog-and-dutch-oven-part-two.html

Echo Canyon - Camping with a Dog and A Dutch Oven - Part Three
https://preparedness123.blogspot.com/2015/10/echo-canyon-camping-with-dog-and-dutch.html

Fishing Dog

Visiting Friends in Nevada

One of my dearest friends lives in a little town near the Eagle Valley area. She has several small dogs and Wilbur fits right in with her crew. When we go camping in the area we make sure to stop in for a visit. Wilbur gets a chance to stretch his legs and I get to visit with my friend. 

Our November Trip to Utah

Late October we road tripped to the area around Manti, Utah to visit my sister. We reserved a nice bed and breakfast in the area. We traveled at night so we did not see much of the lovely country side along the highway. If we had we would have stopped everywhere! I took note of the placed I wanted to visit should I travel back to the area again. Utah is a beautiful place with a lot of great parks and historical towns.

The area was very country where we stayed. In the morning there were turkeys and deer to the side of the Bed and Breakfast. The views were stunning and we enjoyed walks around the property.

The weather was a little chilly so Wilbur was dressed in a little sweater vest to keep his chest warm. He looked rather dapper in his black and red checked sweater. I bought this one because I had a shirt that matched it and I really swore that I would never be one of THOSE dog people. Wilbur's little self changed all of that preconceived canine owner thinking. This sweater later disappeared when I thought it would be fun to put it on the cat. Argyle returned from his trip outside sans sweater.

Our hostess was really great at the property. Not only was the room comfortable and the area's views lovely, the breakfast was wonderful.

Bed and Breakfast - Breakfast Time

Wilbur at Christmas 2015

Christmas Time with Wilbur

Christmas was really special this year. I decided to go all out and got a tree and the works. The animals and I celebrated the holiday with treats and gifts and goodies. I bought a few items for the critters and Wilbur got a blanket, a bow tie, and leash. I love his smiley face in this picture.

The leash turned out to be a lifesaver for the dog, but I was unsure about the color when I bought it. It turned out to be very handy for camping trips. When I woke up in the middle of the night, I couldn't see Wilbur in the dark and thought he had wandered off. The bright orange stood out when I really looked around the tent. He was laying in the corner on a pile of blankets right where he needed to be and I was relieved that he had not gotten lost.

Wilbur's Christmas Outfit

I will be keeping his ashes with me until I decide what to do with them. I may just put them in a fancy urn and continue to bring him on adventures.

Related links
The Mercy of Euthanizing a Beloved Pet
https://crittermom-chronicles.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-mercy-of-euthanizing-beloved-pet.html

Pride the Progress Killer

Proud as a peacock is not necessarily a bad thing.
Majestic Peacock designs on Zazzle

I've been pondering spiritual things lately. I look back on the road I have traveled and think about the life I have led so far. I have learned to take an active role in where I am headed. For a person who used to just drift through life, I have accomplished much in a short time. I say this as a mark of experience, not a boastful thing. 

Pride is a serious obstacle when it comes to moving forward. It is the wall that many of us collide with on our journey. It gets us in trouble more often than not and it is a tool that the universe uses to bring us down to size. The flip side of pride is humility. It is difficult to walk in strides that are humble in this day and age. The world tells us to be prideful and puffed up. 

We take selfies and post them on all our social networks. We seek out the vain things of the world. These items are usually trending fads and tend to drift off into the distance soon after they are in possession. Where is the next fad or hoopla? Caught up in the spirit of the moment we often sell out our progress to higher planes of consciousness. These are stumbling blocks, not stepping stones. The latest label will never give you longevity only momentary pleasure.  

My journey around life has taught me a few serious lessons. I am never better than my fellows. I am a resident of Mother Earth like the rest of us and I understand it is my choice to be a blessing while I am here. I am to learn all I can about the human condition as I drift through my short days here. The things I have been given in the way of gifts are to be nurtured and shared, but not in a prideful way. Uplift another human being with what we have been given. This is how we sow goodness on the earth. 

There are ways to move through responsibilities that are uplifting and in the process they create a sense of accomplishment. Complaining that we have to do something just causes a thing to feel heavier. The joy of checking one more thing off the to-do list should trigger a desire to do better. Inner satisfaction is gained when we keep our minds on the duties we need to perform and a feeling of well-being comes about through this outlook. I cannot tell you how many times I have wanted to put off doing a garden chore or tending to my animals. I step into the area that needs attention and I realize what a blessing it is to be able to work with these things. The garden gives forth goodness and the animals return good feelings and comfort when they are well cared for. These are the privileges I have been given. No matter how hard a task is, go about it in a positive way. This makes the work so much easier. The job usually goes faster, too. While in the midst of a to-do list item, I have often been given an inspirational thought or an answer to a question that has bothered me. Hard work is good for the body and the soul. 

Recommended Reading

Kahlil Gibran

Excerpt:

On Work

You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth.
For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons,
and to step out of life's procession, that marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite. Kindle Version on Amazon

Running To Nowhere

I ran to the dark. That window slid open and I left. I had nowhere

to go, not sure where I was going but I knew that it was time to exit. Home was becoming a treacherous place for me and I just had had enough.

Rustic Barn

I met up with a gal I met in one of my counselling groups and the next thing I knew I was in Phoenix. It seemed like fun at the time but I think back to the times I was so alone and vulnerable and I freak out knowing I could have landed myself in serious danger. I was a young teen then, 16 years old and naive. I had never been exposed to the world and I was about to find out how harsh reality really was. 

Up until this point in my life, I was in junior high choirs, attending my church activities, tried to run for student counsel, was on the volleyball team at middle school and at my church. I played softball on the church leagues. I was an active teenager who didn't know what else to do. My grades were slipping because there was trouble at home. I had 5 siblings to care for and pay attention to when I got home and I didn't have anyone to turn to. What were my answers?

Let me back track a few years here. A project for integration was introduced in the school system the summer I turned 14. I was to participate in a study where 6 white students were among a class of black students that numbered over 250. We were paid minimum wage to attend. These classes began at 7 am Monday through Friday for 4 weeks. It was uncomfortable. The tests we were given showed us to have basic knowledge of math and English so we were given a pass on those classes and given student aid status. I remember a class in the cosmetology rooms but not a whole lot else about that summer.

The one thing that stands out in my mind from that was my mother yelling at me for coming home to nap after classes. I was awake at 5 am to travel across the city. I arrived back home about 2 pm, exhausted. I was accused of doing drugs. I sought them out after weeks of this and started a chain of events that led to my being a runaway and a troubled woman later on in my life.

I won't go into deep details about my run at 16. Let's leave it to say I was roaming and ended up in California. I just drifted. I was not a hitch hiker so that helped keep me safe. I followed the highs and the booze. I was on a beach one day -- months after I had left home and an odd thing happened. I was seen by the boy I had been dating in Las Vegas. He called my mother and about 3 days later, I figured out it was time to call home.

This is one of the many examples of how I see God working in my life. How did I get on that beach where he could see me? What prompted me to call home that same week? After all this time - I can only say it was God pulling the strings. All along my faith kept me going in an odd direction and away from serious trouble. It was my faith that kept me standing in the darkest days in my life. It still carries me through...