Thanks for the Love!

10 Years ago there was a knock on the door late on a week night. Our neighbor who did dog rescue had just found a dog that she believed to be a pug mix and since Ken and I had a pug, she was wondering if we would be willing to foster the dog. The next day she brought her over and we agreed to become her foster dads. Just a week later, she had stolen our hearts and even though her presence in the house really seemed to irritate our pug Basil, we decided to adopt her. We named her Noir. She was nothing like any dog I had ever had before. Kenny was new to dogs, he inherited Freddy, our Yorkie when he moved in with me and together we found and adopted Basil to be Freddy's companion so he wouldn't have to spend his days alone.

Noir was "street smart". She would eat anything. That's great if your feeding a dog. It is not so great when your walking them. Rocks, berries, anything that she could grab she did. She even dug up and ate a goldfish we had when he died (If you follow this
blog, yes it was Tokyo). The thing about her, though was her happiness. Always a joy. Always ready to wash your face. For 10 years we had the gift of this little girl. Even though our other two dogs are not affectionate with us, it never stopped her. She was always too happy to dispense kisses or cuddle on our laps. She was louder than the other dogs as well. Always rejoicing in our return home and when we made them special treats she had a bark that could spit your ear drum.Then this past Sunday night she couldn't sleep and finally messed on the bed. We put her out and by the next morning she had diarrhea. That got worse and we took her to the vet. This morning she passed away. She died as quickly as she came into our lives. It was a shock to suddenly have a third dog and now it is a shock to not have this quirky little soul around the house.

When the vet called Ken was in the shower, I got the new and entered the bathroom crying. I could hear Ken start and opened the shower curtain. We just held each other, not caring that I was getting soaked. Nothing in that moment seemed to matter. Ken is my rock but seeing him vulnerable in that moment, I know that I had never loved him more.

The vet mentioned that he suspected that Noir had had cancer. It has me thinking about animals and humans and my beliefs regarding disease. I have always believed that my cancer was a manifestation of my thoughts. What about our pets who have cancer? Could it be the same for them? Do some animals cure themselves through the power of positive thinking and others do not? One thing for certain, I am glad that Noir did not suffer. Her decline was so sudden. To sudden for me to wrap my head around. We drove down to the vets office to say our final good byes before they cremated her. She seemed like she was still alive just laying there with the two of us blubbering over her. Kahil Gibran in the profit says "Love knows not it's own depth until the hour of separation". Once again I find the truth and and beauty in his words. I had no idea how I had grown to love Noir over the last 10 years. Freddy and Basil always seem to take center stage in our house. Ken has lost his running buddy, we both have lost our foot warmer and even greater we have lost an amazing dog that had so much life and joy in her it seems impossible that she could be gone.

Noir, thank you for choosing to love us and share your time here on earth with us. Kenny used to say that in spite of everything you really were the best dog and he is, once again, right.