Max's Tribute
March 31st, 2006, 06:51 PM
Max, my rock, my best friend, my 4-legged son, my one and only constant in an ever-changing world.
On July 4, 1995, I met Max. He was just 4 months old, and hyper as can be. But, boy was he cute! The lady who bought him could no longer keep him, so I said I’d take him. I put him in my car, took him home, gave him a much needed bath, and fed him. He kept looking at the door, waiting for his previous owner to come back for him…she never did, and I thank God for that every day.
He was a terror in the beginning. He was so clumsy that he ran into everything. And, he wasn’t house trained yet. It took only three days for me to do that though…he’s so smart. I always said he’s too smart for my own good!
The bond was instant. I grew to love him immediately. And the best part of it all was knowing it was reciprocated, unconditionally.
In the 11 years we shared together, he’s been my rock, my one constant in life, my best friend, my baby boy. And, for 11 years, I convinced myself that he needed me…he was so timid that he was afraid of his own shadow, so he became mine…but, the reality of it is I needed him just as much.
Max was so much fun. We would have conversations. And, sometimes, I’d scold him, and he’d talk back to me! Other times, I’d say give me a kiss, and he’d smack my lips with his nose. When I asked him what he wanted, he would let it be known. Like clockwork, he knew when it was feeding time, treat time, and potty time. He made sure I never slacked off! When I took him out for walks, I’d put his leash on and ask him where he wanted to go…and he would grab the leash in his mouth, and lead me in the direction he felt like heading. Did I mention that he took me out for walks? Yea, that’s what I meant.
He slept in bed with me for years, until his hips got too bad to jump that high. But, he was still able to hang out on the couch and watch TV with me, and he did so all the time. And, sometimes, at night, I’d sleep on his bed with him, since he was too heavy for me to lift up.
By the time he was 5, he had been treated for mange, repeatedly treated for chronic ear infections, had emergency surgery for urinary stone removal, and while the vet was at it, performed a urethrostomy (surgically creating a permanent hole at the base of his penis, so his stones will be able to pass), and was diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia, a heart murmur, and Cushing’s Disease.
My baby boy has not had it easy, but he was always a trooper. And, he loved being outdoors! I would let him run around the park, and he’d chase the ducks and squirrels. (But he would always stop just short of them…as if he was playing with them, teasing them.) He loved the snow!! He would have so much fun out there in the deep snow.
He was very protective of me. If he thought someone was hurting me, he would bark viciously. Yet, he always knew to be gentle with kids. I wasn’t allowed to shower with the bathroom door shut. He needed to be able to be right near me. When dates would come over he would plop himself on the couch, directly in between us.
Max was with me through so much change and uncertainty. He started out with me in New Jersey, and traveled with me all the way to Minnesota!! He even got to stay in a pet-friendly hotel in Indiana…and he had his own queen size bed that night! And, he never complained. Never. So, I failed to see that his liver was going bad, and I can’t help but wonder if this move to the Midwest was too stressful for him, because not two months later, and my baby boy had a painful final week. And, again…he didn’t complain once, as long as I was near him, he was ok. The morning he died, he knew it was his time. We carried him up the stairs, as his body was too weak to do it, and brought him outside. (And, even though he was moments from death, he still chased the squirrel he saw!) I was watching him, and I knew he had taken a turn for the worse. Then I noticed him trying to run away…to die in solitude. I ran to him, and grabbed him, which is when my baby boy fell to the ground. It was 6:28 AM, March 29, 2006.
And, I would do the journey again with Max, and not change anything except for his painful ending. I would rather have had him go in his sleep, with me on the floor next to him. He deserved at least that much.
My baby boy. God messed up by making our pets live much shorter lives than we do. How can I go on without my boy?
I hope I was a good mommy, because he deserved that, and more.
…
I love you, Max. I hope I made you happy.
On July 4, 1995, I met Max. He was just 4 months old, and hyper as can be. But, boy was he cute! The lady who bought him could no longer keep him, so I said I’d take him. I put him in my car, took him home, gave him a much needed bath, and fed him. He kept looking at the door, waiting for his previous owner to come back for him…she never did, and I thank God for that every day.
He was a terror in the beginning. He was so clumsy that he ran into everything. And, he wasn’t house trained yet. It took only three days for me to do that though…he’s so smart. I always said he’s too smart for my own good!
The bond was instant. I grew to love him immediately. And the best part of it all was knowing it was reciprocated, unconditionally.
In the 11 years we shared together, he’s been my rock, my one constant in life, my best friend, my baby boy. And, for 11 years, I convinced myself that he needed me…he was so timid that he was afraid of his own shadow, so he became mine…but, the reality of it is I needed him just as much.
Max was so much fun. We would have conversations. And, sometimes, I’d scold him, and he’d talk back to me! Other times, I’d say give me a kiss, and he’d smack my lips with his nose. When I asked him what he wanted, he would let it be known. Like clockwork, he knew when it was feeding time, treat time, and potty time. He made sure I never slacked off! When I took him out for walks, I’d put his leash on and ask him where he wanted to go…and he would grab the leash in his mouth, and lead me in the direction he felt like heading. Did I mention that he took me out for walks? Yea, that’s what I meant.
He slept in bed with me for years, until his hips got too bad to jump that high. But, he was still able to hang out on the couch and watch TV with me, and he did so all the time. And, sometimes, at night, I’d sleep on his bed with him, since he was too heavy for me to lift up.
By the time he was 5, he had been treated for mange, repeatedly treated for chronic ear infections, had emergency surgery for urinary stone removal, and while the vet was at it, performed a urethrostomy (surgically creating a permanent hole at the base of his penis, so his stones will be able to pass), and was diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia, a heart murmur, and Cushing’s Disease.
My baby boy has not had it easy, but he was always a trooper. And, he loved being outdoors! I would let him run around the park, and he’d chase the ducks and squirrels. (But he would always stop just short of them…as if he was playing with them, teasing them.) He loved the snow!! He would have so much fun out there in the deep snow.
He was very protective of me. If he thought someone was hurting me, he would bark viciously. Yet, he always knew to be gentle with kids. I wasn’t allowed to shower with the bathroom door shut. He needed to be able to be right near me. When dates would come over he would plop himself on the couch, directly in between us.
Max was with me through so much change and uncertainty. He started out with me in New Jersey, and traveled with me all the way to Minnesota!! He even got to stay in a pet-friendly hotel in Indiana…and he had his own queen size bed that night! And, he never complained. Never. So, I failed to see that his liver was going bad, and I can’t help but wonder if this move to the Midwest was too stressful for him, because not two months later, and my baby boy had a painful final week. And, again…he didn’t complain once, as long as I was near him, he was ok. The morning he died, he knew it was his time. We carried him up the stairs, as his body was too weak to do it, and brought him outside. (And, even though he was moments from death, he still chased the squirrel he saw!) I was watching him, and I knew he had taken a turn for the worse. Then I noticed him trying to run away…to die in solitude. I ran to him, and grabbed him, which is when my baby boy fell to the ground. It was 6:28 AM, March 29, 2006.
And, I would do the journey again with Max, and not change anything except for his painful ending. I would rather have had him go in his sleep, with me on the floor next to him. He deserved at least that much.
My baby boy. God messed up by making our pets live much shorter lives than we do. How can I go on without my boy?
I hope I was a good mommy, because he deserved that, and more.
…
I love you, Max. I hope I made you happy.