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The wide green lawn of forever
It was a perfect February day, unseasonably warm and sunny. I decided to take Bo for a walk around the block, just to get out of the house. HB was totally up for it, so I dressed her in her winter coat (it was warm for February, not balmy), and got Bo’s leash out. He responded immediately, tearing up and down the stairs to the front door, excited to be going outdoors. It took me some amount of time to get his leash on.
HB wanted to hold his leash as we were walking. I didn’t want her to, for fear that she wasn’t big enough at all of five years old. ‘I can do it, Daddy!’ she insisted. I finally relented, after listening hard for any other dogs out. Bo was never socially adapted — his idea of a good time was full combat with any dog big or small, instead of the more formal butt-sniffing-how-d’ya-do. I gave her the leash, making sure she was holding it so she could let go if Bo took off, and down the street we went.
Bo behaved himself, placidly walking down the sidewalk, his black nose leading him from bush to bush, HB proudly holding his leash. We rounded the corner at the halfway mark of our block, and… disaster. Two dogs in a fenced yard I had forgotten about started barking. In slow motion, I saw Bo’s muscles bunch under his shaggy coat, and then he sprang forward. HB took three steps, arm outstretched holding the leash, and then took flight, sailing five feet through the air before landing belly-first on the driveway of the dog owner’s driveway. She clung to the leash and was dragged fully fifteen feet before she let go, the shiiiiiikkkk of her jacket sliding on the cement the only sound I heard.
Putting the ‘good’ in Goodfather, one day at a time.
Bo was Socko’s dog.* It’s hard watching a member of the family get older, but it became clear over the last few weeks that he was suffering. My ex-wife met Socko, Bo and me at the Animal Hospital, and we had a sad reunion in which Bo was put to sleep. I cried with HB in the parking lot, holding her close, and she was five again with her face downcast as I treated her knees, saying, ‘I thought I could hold him, Daddy.’
It was hard coming home without Bo, and explaining to Panda that he would never be coming home again. This is her first experience with death, and we talked about how Bo is in doggie-Heaven now, a wide green lawn of forever.
Bo's collar
*If you ever read this Socko, let me say again that I am truly sorry for your loss.
Posted: February 24th, 2009 under family, life.
Tags: Bo, family
Comments
Comment from jen
Time February 24, 2009 at 9:13 am
so sorry … those moments are tough … for everyone.
i always remember a saying about how dogs leave us faster ’cause they get life right faster.
it doesn’t ease the pain … i know.
take care.
Comment from WickedStepMom
Time February 24, 2009 at 9:28 am
Socko I am sorry for your loss. I know how hard that can be. I hope you all find peace.
Comment from BedsideTalesMan
Time February 24, 2009 at 9:45 am
Great post…I have had several pets ‘pass’ and it is always hard. esspecially for the kids, who form such tight ’sibling’ relationships with them.
Lastly…I’ve had my share of seeing kids being walked/dragged by dogs…it is funny but a bit scary!
Comment from Jan
Time February 24, 2009 at 10:15 am
Oh, how sad! I’m so sorry for your loss. I don’t know how I’ll handle it when my Scooter goes to the Big Back Yard in the sky - I don’t even want to think about it.
Comment from Momma Trish
Time February 24, 2009 at 10:27 am
I’m sorry you had to put Bo down. We had to make that decision with a pet this past fall. Even though we know it was the right decision for her, it was not an easy thing for us. They’re family, and we love them.
So sorry for your loss. Take care of yourself.
Comment from HeatherPride
Time February 24, 2009 at 10:38 am
Losing a pet is so hard. Our vet gave us a plaque with some really sappy and heart-wrenching poem on it, where we have my old dog’s collar propped up on. I can’t even look at it without crying, and I refuse to read the poem because I know I’ll cry that much more!!! Sorry for your loss.
Comment from Casey
Time February 24, 2009 at 10:40 am
I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. We haven’t had to go through that with a dog yet but we put our family cat down a few years back and it was terrible.
Comment from Sarah
Time February 24, 2009 at 11:02 am
The only time I have seen my Dad cry was when he had to put his dog to sleep.
Rest In Peace Bo
Comment from Twenty Four At Heart
Time February 24, 2009 at 11:23 am
Misty eyed! I am such a softy for dogs. I sobbed and sobbed when we had to put our first Golden down. So sorry about Bo!
Comment from Cameron
Time February 24, 2009 at 11:46 am
Sad, truly. We lost a dog and cat last year…occasionally our 3.5 year old daughter still mentions them.
Comment from nonna
Time February 24, 2009 at 12:12 pm
ok this is the 2nd dog passing post in one day that i’ve read. yall are killing me. i’m sorry for your loss. we had to put our basset down a couple years ago and i still miss her. hang in there
Comment from Lisa
Time February 24, 2009 at 1:01 pm
He was put down because of this incident? Oh, that is awful! I know how hard it is…I’ve been with dogs when they have been put down and it so heart-wrenching…! Hang in there.
Comment from morethananelectrician
Time February 24, 2009 at 1:52 pm
It is truely the hard part about having pets with such short life spans…compared to ours…
Comment from churchpunkmom
Time February 24, 2009 at 3:48 pm
I wasn’t expecting to cry when I came over here.. But wow. I couldn’t help it.
What a gorgeous dog. Sorry for your loss.
Comment from Captain Dumbass
Time February 24, 2009 at 4:38 pm
And that’s why I’ll never own another dog.
Comment from Sprite’s Keeper
Time February 24, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Oh, my goodness. I’m so sorry. I’ve only had to say goodbye to one dog in my life and I don’t think I could face it again. So sad.
Comment from Pseudo
Time February 24, 2009 at 7:21 pm
So sad for your loss. Big hugs from over here.
We have a 16 year old dog who we keep an extra eye on all the time.
Comment from Petra a.k.a. The Wise (Young) Mommy
Time February 25, 2009 at 6:11 am
Thanks for making me cry.
I’m sorry about your dog. I dread the day when our puppy leaves us. Both kids have grown up with her and they will be devastated.
Such is life, I suppose…
Comment from foradifferentkindofgirl (fadkog)
Time February 25, 2009 at 6:51 am
My sister’s family has a dog that they’ve had since before my sister’s family became a family. Sadly, it’s getting to be about that time for the dog, and even though I live several hours away from them, I’m sad to think of the loss of Maddie, and for my nieces.
So, so sorry to hear of your loss.
Comment from Mama Dawg
Time February 25, 2009 at 6:54 am
I am soooo not ready for my cats to go. We’ve had fish and a hamster die on us, but nothing like a dog or cat. My cats are getting old and one of them’s sick, so I know it will be any time now.
Totally dreading it.
Comment from Georgette
Time February 25, 2009 at 7:14 am
Well I hope he’s having a ball up there peeing on all those bushes in the forever lawn. Bye Bye Bo. =(
Comment from Pseudo
Time February 25, 2009 at 8:16 am
I’ve got a little something for you on my post today….
Comment from shonda
Time February 25, 2009 at 8:51 am
Since you commented on my blog when we lost Whiskey in January, you know I feel your pain. Sorry for your family’s loss.
Comment from wunderwoman
Time February 25, 2009 at 11:08 am
I’m sorry for your loss, it was awful when I had to put my Bandit to sleep:(
Comment from Fragrant Liar
Time February 25, 2009 at 8:44 pm
It’s so hard to put your beloved pet down, but so much better for them when they’re that sick or in pain. But what great memories they give us.
Comment from Eva
Time February 26, 2009 at 3:27 am
I am sorry you and I sincerely regret your dog! I love animals, I have a house dog and he lives for me, this family member!
Comment from Krystal
Time February 26, 2009 at 8:39 am
wow, I am so sorry for this. Poor Panda and HB. (((HUGS)))
Comment from Elise
Time February 26, 2009 at 7:03 pm
So very sad! Having a pet friend is the best, and the saddest experience.
I believe they meet us on the other side.
Comment from Stepping Thru
Time February 26, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Dogs love us so unconditionally that they leave a huge empty spot when they are gone. It’s a tough lesson in loss for little ones too. My condolences.
Comment from Midlife Mama
Time March 1, 2009 at 9:00 am
Aww…. like you haven’t had life kick you in the gonads enough lately. *sigh* I’m so sorry, GF. {{{hugs}}}
Comment from vodkamom
Time March 1, 2009 at 2:02 pm
that was very sad. I am sorry.
Comment from June Saville
Time March 2, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Writing so well as to communicate deep emotions is a gift. Lucky you!
June in Oz
Comment from Josh
Time March 3, 2009 at 5:51 pm
I told that exact same story of hb getting dragged around the neighborhood to my girlfriend the night he was put to sleep. One of my fondest memories of Bo, cynically enough.
Comment from thistle
Time March 3, 2009 at 10:13 pm
So sorry to hear this…my sister lost her old boy just a couple of weeks ago, he was from the very first litter that i helped to deliver and i gifted him to my nephews so they grew up together. It’s never easy to see them go, and especially when they are an integral part of childhood memories.
Comment from BajiDilmore
Time August 22, 2009 at 10:36 pm
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Comment from Irish Gumbo
Time February 24, 2009 at 9:06 am
“..a wide green lawn of forever.”
*doublesniff* OMG, man, heartbreak/beautiful. *sniff* Sometimes, poetry comes of loss. And you my friend, just wrote some poetry. Sorry to hear of your loss.