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Wednesday, December 16

Goodbye Wally


Yesterday Wally the long term foster woke up for the last time. His congestive heart failure had finally caught up with him, and his quality of life had been reduced to nothing.

Wally came into our lives at the right time. Just days after my father passed away The Pie got a call from the Humane Society. She called me right after she hung up with them and asked me if I would mind it if we took in a chihuahua that was probably going to die in a few months (more than likely a few weeks) in order to let him live out his final days in a happy way. I reluctantly agreed, and she brought him by the uptown on her way home to introduce him to me. He was a timid looking piece of shit little dog, but I couldn't see the harm in letting him stay with us.

Wally ended up at the Humane Society in the most unusual way. A very nice citizen saw him at a garage sale in a cage for $15 (the owners were selling everything they had since they were losing their home). She bought him and took him to the Humane Society where they looked him over and diagnosed his condition and gave him his sad prognosis.

Wally defied the odds and lived another 20 months. He was grumpy at times, but sometimes all the wheezing and hacking got to him and made him sore. Other times he was happy and loving, crawling under our covers at night and demanding attention when he needed it. Our two other dogs (a found Shelty and a found medium sized mutt) got along with him swimmingly and treated him like he had always been there.

We knew this time would come, but it didn't make it any easier. I never, ever, ever thought I could love a chihuahua, but I was wrong.

Sad post, I know. I've read plenty of similar posts over the years on other blogs, and I realize it's just a cathartic way of dealing with it.

So let's do some good with it...

Support your local Humane Society. Give them a bag of dog food, take some time to short term foster some cute kitties and puppies for a couple weeks, donate cash money, give them your time and scoop poop for a few hours... whatever it takes. Dogs don't start wars and cats don't run Ponzi scams. They're like little people with slightly more fur and less evil tendencies, but they don't have opposable thumbs which makes it hard for them to find gainful employment, so they most definitely could use your help.

I may be taking a day or two off, but I'll be back Monday for sure.

26 comments:

Tomi said...

bummer.

Billy Fehr said...

they do not need much but they do need us.

Anonymous said...

I read you blog everyday and to me this is one of your best posts. Dogs or cats are like part of the family and you love them as such.

Anonymous said...

"timid looking piece of shit little dogs" are often the one's with the most personality..RIP Wallydog.

matt

FixieDave said...

RIP...

Sorry to hear about the loss...

allan said...

Sorry man.

clay said...

Nice post, thanks for sharing.

Sorry for your loss.

cornfed said...

Sorry for your loss.

zencycle said...

I have had dogs almost all of my life. I keep thinking, as each one passes, it will be easier next time.

It isn't.

Anonymous said...

RIP Wally! Sorry for your loss.

Good for you to help him out. I am sure his last days were much happier with your help.

Swiftwick said...

So sorry! He looked like a great pup. Definitely support your local humane society.

Anonymous said...

bummer.

mandy said...

much sympathy for your family, i'm sorry to hear about Wally.

Anonymous said...

why not put the Humane Society on your "dicky jersey" you sell and give them part of the profit.

TheMutt said...

So sorry man. We have six pets, and I dread the day(s) when this happens.

Hang in there.

Blaze Deathcaster said...

I've got 2 bags of super high-end puppy food that I've been meaning to drop off at the shelter. I'll do it this week in memory of Wally.

the original big ring said...

Sorry for your loss - but rest assured, all dogs DO go to heaven. Rest in peace Wally

Tim said...

Our 4 cats are too self absorbed to care. But the humans in the house know all to well how the furry members of the family weave their way into our hearts. I'm sure Wally was a good soul and you were lucky to have him. Peace Wally.

Big Dave said...

I think my mutt Luna would have liked Wally. She tends to only like little boy dogs.

Wally was a neat character for your blog. He'll be missed.

Leyonce said...

Sorry to hear about Wally.

I showed the photo of him to my kids when you posted it in Oct. They said it was an exact twin of our dog who passed on last year. You don't realize how attached you become.

rick is! said...

lost my bud a few months ago so I know it can be tough even if they were a pain in the ass (like mine at times).

The Vegan Vagabond said...

I also never thought I could love a chihuahua until I met Sugar, the chubbiest chihuahua ever, also a Humane Society vet. She only had one eye and her tongue was always hanging out of her mouth.

Sugar liked to lie on her back and wait for a belly rub. Dogs are the best.

So sorry about Wally.

Unknown said...

Sorry you lost Wally, but I know for sure he was thankful he got to live it up with you and your fam during his last 20 months! Let the sadness come, wallow around in it for a while, then say goodbye and know that you can relive memories whenever you want. That little fighter will always be with you in some way. Peace to you guys.

Luis G. said...

So sorry Rich...

Anonymous said...

Ahh man, so sorry to hear this. Appreciate you taking in an old guy. Our newest family member is a former Mexico street dog (has to be part chihuahua). He was 10-12 (probably more like 15) when we adopted him. He is almost blind, almost deaf and has a total of two teeth and we could not love him more. Seriously, old dogs rule and only the best people are allowed to spend their final years with them. Cheers to Wally.

jen @walz

rockridr said...

So Sorry Rich, I lost Belle 8 months ago, she was an awesome trail dog that gave her all on every ride. But I know she's burnin' up trail somewhere on a never ending ride.