Well, I cannot believe that I am writing this, not two weeks after Boo left us, but there it is. Ben died this afternoon and has gone to join Boo in the eternal hunt for squirrels, bunnies and gophers. We wish them godspeed and happy hunting.
Ben was born in February, 2000. So he had an amazing 12.5 year run. Which, for someone his size, is pretty good and we couldn't have asked for much more. We had Scout when we adopted Ben in 2001 and were not looking for another dog. My co-worker Max was going to the SPCA for lunch and I thought I'd go along. HE was looking for a dog. I wasn't. I found a dog. He didn't. I just knew he should be with us and I had to convince Dan that we needed another dog.
We had a great life with the boys. Tons of adventures. Ben was with us when we moved to Calgary, which he loved, as long as it wasn't 40 below. We added Boo to the mix shortly after arrival and our pack had many, many adventures. We spent long hours in fabulous dogparks in both Calgary and Seattle (none here unfortunately). We went for hours' long treks in our beloved Fish Creek Park out our back door in Calgary. Jumping on his people on the bed was one of Ben's favorite activities, though it's been a few years since his leg would let him. And Boo was up for whatever Ben was up for.
After Boo died, Ben was okay. Then 2 days later, he stopped eating, was lethargic and had tremendous difficulty getting around. We put him back on the prednisone (that we had weaned him off of weeks prior) and the vet gave him antibiotics as he had a fever. He had some good days and some less so. We got a few strolls around the blocks in. He would sometimes eat. And sometimes puke. But yesterday he just lay in the yard all day and even all night and he had so much trouble getting up we feared the end was near. I made an appt to take him this afternoon to let him go, but he didn't want to wait and instead died at home with Dan & I here with him. He died one minute (or less) before Kat got off the school bus, all excited to tell us about her day. Poor kid, we met her at the bus in tears and she joined in. And said her goodbyes.
And poor Ben. Dying with that ridiculous haircut......I think the pred kept his fur from growing back in all its glory and I got so used to seeing him looking like a battered dog that I forget what a beautiful animal he was. When I brought him home shaved in May, Dan said "he'd better not die with that haircut.' He can join Wolfie in the annals of our dogs dying with bad do's.
Apparently I wasn't kidding when I called them life partners. They were buds for 8.5 years and we will never know how much of their end months/years were owed to one another's presence. It definitely seems now that they may have been keeping one another going. But we are grateful that we had such wonderful dogs for as long as we did and with minimal decline/discomfort for both, excepting the last 2 weeks or so for each. And perhaps it's fitting that they went close together, thus closing that chapter for all of us.
I am sure that we will begin a new dog/family chapter soon. If anyone is aware of an ideal pup for us, please let us know. Our standards are high, as they have been set by the gentlest and funniest of giants, but of you know of anyone (same general colors, ideally), please let us know. We definitely want to start the next crop young so we all have many years together.
We will strive to keep Ben's "Let's go" attitude in our lives. I always admired that he was always up for an adventure....everything was an adventure for him and he let few opportunities pass (including food related opportunities).
Thanks for reading.
Heidi, Dan & Kat
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