How do I describe to you the dog that has brought so much pleasure to our lives? Found by accident, he turned out to be the perfect dog in every way. This morning, after months of debate, I took him to the vet and had him euthanized. It was one of the hardest decisions of my life, not to mention one of the hardest days of my life. I've had a few of those lately!
I found Barney by accident. I was shopping in Century City one afternoon. I had parked my car in a different area than usual, so I returned to my car by a different route than normal. Right near the escalator that I would not normally have walked by, was a group call the Amanda Foundation, a dog rescue organization, with a few dogs left that had not yet been adopted. I had no intention of getting a dog that day. We already had a young Akita mix at home that was a handful, but Barney looked up at me with an expression that said "take me home." I could not resist. I called Ron and told him I had found an adorable dog, could we handle another dog, and he said "NO". I bought him anyway. Ron was not happy about this at all, especially since I was leaving a few days later for a week in Paris.
Well, I came home from Paris, and Ron was in love with Barney. They had a week to bond and have been inseparable ever since. When Ron used to come home from work, Barney would be standing at the door, wagging his tail. He'd follow him upstairs as Ron changed his clothes, then sat by his side on the sofa while Ron watched the news. Recently, although he could barely walk, he'd hobble from living room, to office, to bedroom. He just wanted to be by Ron's side.
I remember so many funny incidents with him, I am smiling just thinking about them. One time the pool man left the gate opened and he and Tali (the Akita) ran away. We lived near a big street, and I don't know how they crossed without getting killed, but they did and ran down San Vicente for several blocks, finally ending in a residential neighborhood where they wandered into someones' backyard.
I remember car trips from LA to Del Mar when we were building our house. We would come to Del Mar almost every week with the dogs. We would always stop at In And Out for burgers on the way home. We would buy burgers for ourselves, then burgers for the dogs. It was such fun.
I remember as Barney got older, we would walk in Del Mar and when he wouldn't want to walk any farther I would have to call Ron to come pick us up.
I remember a cold nose pressing my face early each morning, telling me it was time to get up. I also remember him licking my face, and breathing that terrible breath on me. Honestly, his bad breath was his only negative.
I remember when I came home four years ago and he couldn't move, his hind end was completely paralyzed. We took him to a specialist who said the only way to save him was to do spine surgery. He was almost 15 years old, the surgery cost $5600 plus rehab, and everyone thought we were crazy to do it, but we did, and got to enjoy him for another few years. I'd do it all again.
I found Barney by accident. I was shopping in Century City one afternoon. I had parked my car in a different area than usual, so I returned to my car by a different route than normal. Right near the escalator that I would not normally have walked by, was a group call the Amanda Foundation, a dog rescue organization, with a few dogs left that had not yet been adopted. I had no intention of getting a dog that day. We already had a young Akita mix at home that was a handful, but Barney looked up at me with an expression that said "take me home." I could not resist. I called Ron and told him I had found an adorable dog, could we handle another dog, and he said "NO". I bought him anyway. Ron was not happy about this at all, especially since I was leaving a few days later for a week in Paris.
Well, I came home from Paris, and Ron was in love with Barney. They had a week to bond and have been inseparable ever since. When Ron used to come home from work, Barney would be standing at the door, wagging his tail. He'd follow him upstairs as Ron changed his clothes, then sat by his side on the sofa while Ron watched the news. Recently, although he could barely walk, he'd hobble from living room, to office, to bedroom. He just wanted to be by Ron's side.
I remember so many funny incidents with him, I am smiling just thinking about them. One time the pool man left the gate opened and he and Tali (the Akita) ran away. We lived near a big street, and I don't know how they crossed without getting killed, but they did and ran down San Vicente for several blocks, finally ending in a residential neighborhood where they wandered into someones' backyard.
I remember car trips from LA to Del Mar when we were building our house. We would come to Del Mar almost every week with the dogs. We would always stop at In And Out for burgers on the way home. We would buy burgers for ourselves, then burgers for the dogs. It was such fun.
I remember as Barney got older, we would walk in Del Mar and when he wouldn't want to walk any farther I would have to call Ron to come pick us up.
I remember a cold nose pressing my face early each morning, telling me it was time to get up. I also remember him licking my face, and breathing that terrible breath on me. Honestly, his bad breath was his only negative.
I remember when I came home four years ago and he couldn't move, his hind end was completely paralyzed. We took him to a specialist who said the only way to save him was to do spine surgery. He was almost 15 years old, the surgery cost $5600 plus rehab, and everyone thought we were crazy to do it, but we did, and got to enjoy him for another few years. I'd do it all again.
Recently I remember wheeling him around in a little red wagon, loaned to me by my friend Pat, and having complete strangers stop their cars to tell me how cute he was.
So Barney, old boy, we're going to miss you. The house will be lonely without you. Who will I take my afternoon nap with? Who's going to get me up in the morning? Eventually a new dog will come along, when the time is right. For now, I have memories of Barney that will keep me going. I know there is another special dog in my future, but for now I will simply reminice about Barney the Wonderdog.
So Barney, old boy, we're going to miss you. The house will be lonely without you. Who will I take my afternoon nap with? Who's going to get me up in the morning? Eventually a new dog will come along, when the time is right. For now, I have memories of Barney that will keep me going. I know there is another special dog in my future, but for now I will simply reminice about Barney the Wonderdog.
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