I took Wolfgang's toys to a dog shelter today. Well, not all of them - we kept his frisbee, his blue stuffed animal, and a couple of balls that his dog friends look for when they come over. But I took probably 30 dog toys to be shelter.
After all, Wolfgang always got Puppy Loot on Christmas. Now we hope that these dogs who have nothing will enjoy having a toy all their own. As The Queen Of The World has been saying, he was always so good about sharing his toys. She says that he'd like sharing his toys with other dogs. She's right, of course.
But this was a hard experience for me. It was part of letting go, which has to be done. But it was hard. Chris Stapleton wrote this song the night that his dog died. I expect that was hard, too.
Maggie's Song (Songwriter: Chris Stapleton)
Let me tell you a story
About an old friend of mine
Somebody left her in a shopping cart
In a parking lot for us to findJust a fuzzy black pup
She was hungry and feeling alone
We put her in the back seat
Told her we were taking her homeRun, Maggie, run
With the heart of a rebel child
Oh, run, Maggie, run
Be just as free as you are wildA few kids later
We moved out on the farm
And she followed those kids around
Yeah, she kept them safe from harmAnd she loved to chase squirrels
And playing out in the snow
She'd take off like a bullet
Man, you should have seen her goRun, Maggie, run
With the heart of a rebel child
Oh, run, Maggie, run
Be just as free as you are wildIt was raining on a Monday
The day that Maggie died
She woke up and couldn't use her legs
So I laid down by her sideShe put her head on my hand
Like she'd done so many times
I told her she was a good dog
Then I told her goodbyeRun, Maggie, run
With the heart of a rebel child
Oh, run, Maggie, run
Be just as free as you are wildI had a revelation
As the tractor dug a hole
I can tell you right now
That a dog has a soulAnd I thought to myself
As we buried her on the hill
I never knew me a better dog
And I guess I never willRun, Maggie, run
With the heart of a rebel child
Oh, run, Maggie, run
Be just as free as you are wildOh, run, Maggie, run
With the heart of a rebel child
Oh, run, Maggie, run
Be just as free as you are wild
Wolfgang never had the heart of a rebel child. Instead, he shared his toys with his doggie friends. But I never knew me a better dog, and I guess I never will.
Gee whiz, BP. Whaddya doing? From out here in the outhouse, it looks to me like ya got a hole in your heart. If I were you I’d stick a dawg in it. It won’t fit at first… but it’ll slow the bleeding and in time …will stop it. There’s dawgs out there that need you as much as Wolfgang did. There’s nothing good about what you’re going through… but whadda I know?
ReplyDeleteNot trying to be a dink…but I hate seeing ya tear yourself up.
MAN, awful dusty in here all of a sudden.
ReplyDeleteWhat Filthie said. Lost my wonderful Maxine four years ago, we had her 18 wonderful years. Because we had 3 other dogs, we didn't rush into getting another. Only dogs can fill that mysterious hole in yer heart. Only they "get" you like no one else can with truly unconditional love. No dog can fill a previous dog's place, but like people, they create a new love place. There's a lot of doomed dogs out there waiting in death jails, rescues are a special kind of grateful. Saving just one is a noble act. I'm not trying to guilt trip you (not intentionally), I'm in my 70's now, I've never been without a dog more than briefly. You can tell them things you can't tell anyone else, they'll only give you love back. Stapleton's song apparently got to me. Emotional ramble over.
ReplyDeleteStick to your guns.
ReplyDeleteIt wouldn't be fair to the puppy/dog if you're not ready to commit to them. They deserve someone who is ready and willing to love them as they should be loved...
Diane
Diane, you describe my problem precisely. Thank you.
ReplyDelete- Borepatch
This hits close to home. It's good to cry occasionally. God put dogs here to keep us honest with ourselves.
ReplyDeleteI can't even bear to ponder what to do with Duke's "Material Possessions" just yet. All his toys and blankets... Safely stored for now.
ReplyDeleteOur little dog left us 8 weeks ago. Last week we found a run down little Terrier mix in the shelter that was in need of some TLC. This little guy has some big shoes to fill to take the place of our previous dog but I am keeping my fingers crossed. Not the same but he is figuring us out and we are figuring him out. Looks like we can make it work.
ReplyDelete