Saying Goodbye

RIP Tucker Doodle Noodle Dog

11/1/1999 - 4/13/2013

I had to do the hardest thing I have ever done in my 40 years...say good-bye to my sweet fury baby.  We were blessed to have Tucker just 11 days shy of exactly 13 years.  

When we were planning to adopt a puppy, I was wanting a lab mix.  We went to Petsmart to see the pound puppies from Lago Vista Paws that were having their adoption day there.  There was a lab puppy and it was C R A Z Y; jumping in the water bowl, barking at the big dogs, running wildly.  

And then there was this calm, sweet, shy, blonde, skinny 6 month old whippet mix.  As I was sitting on the floor Indian style (or criss cross applesauce which is PC these days), he came and literally sat on my lap.  He licked me and looked up at me with his big brown eyes.  Who could resist that??  The shelter had named him Blonde Boy and we renamed him Tucker because of the way his tail tucked under his butt, especially when he was running.  And we actually had to fight for him as another young girl wanted to adopt him also.  We won as we had a backyard with a fence - something he would be safe to run around in.  And boy was he fast. The whippet in him you know.  I wish I had my iPhone back then to record him running.

He had found his forever home.

He was my little guy.  Tons of attention was poured on him.  Treats, toys, cuddles, kisses and walks every night.

Then Trey came along and Tucker (and Maddie, our cat) dropped a rung on the attention ladder from first place to second.  But he didn't mind.  He was very sweet and gentle, allowing Trey to pull on him and lay on him and love him.  And of course when Paige came along, he moved even farther down the ladder.

Tucker had a nervous side to him.  Boy could he shake.  He definitely had some separation issues when he was younger and trips to the vet made my stomach turn to see him so nervous.  I called him my Nervous Nelly.

 I will miss incredibly his soft, silky ears, his beautiful big brown eyes, his smart tricks, his sweet disposition, his unconditional love.  He was a fantastic dog.  And yes, I know he was blessed to have us too as his family.

Now that we said good-bye, we are healing as a family.  Crying and talking about what he is doing up in Dog Heaven.  Meeting up with Maddie again, running like a wild maniac, eating whatever he wants (he always had a bad tummy and couldn't have treats b/c of his special diet), spinning and curling up in a cloud to sleep.

You have a big piece of my heart Tucker and I will always love you.