Tribute to Gus

 Where does one begin to write a tribute when the heart is so broken? 

Gus, the eternal puppy.

I have struggled with the loss as anyone who is a pet lover would understand. Gus went down so quickly that it was a shock to us.

He was running and playing all summer with the grandchildren. Then about 2 weeks ago, he slowed down. He seemed to be panting, not because of being hot but, a general feeling of he is not ok.

I took him to the vet last week on a Tuesday where I was asked had anyone ever told me he had a heart murmur? From that moment I felt like Charlie Brown where I couldn't focus on anything else. They did tests and fortunately Jeff answered the phone with the results. We put him on a heart medicine on Friday and still he wasn't ok. All weekend, he wasn't exactly sick but he was not himself. We called first thing Monday morning to get him back in. Jeff took ,him and they took an x-ray and at our suggestion put him on an antibiotic because we thought maybe he had gotten sick from the bayou water.

Tuesday everything changed and very quickly. I was laying on the floor with him while Jeff called the vet. We made the decisions to take him to the emergency vet. A scan showed 2 tumors on his spleen and liver and that his spleen had burst and he was bleeding internally. Pure shock. 

The only consolation is that I spent most of that day petting him and holding him. I got to say goodbye - a hard one, but a goodbye.

I was unable to stop sobbing for 24 hours.

He was my gift for 9 years. Only 9 years was all I could think about, but somewhere in that awfulness God began to show me that my 9 years with him had been such a gift. I was at home all day with him, something I had not been with my other 4 dogs. Gus had been my sidekick all day everyday. We had only been away from him for a couple of weekends in his life. He has been our constant companion of joy and light for all of those 9 years.

This past Sunday, I typed 2 lines on my phone from the message. Our pastor has been preaching on the 23rd Psalm for some time now. 

On Sunday, he said...

"Don't waste the green pastures."

and 

"What we learn on the mountaintop is how we will live in the valley."

Gus was absolutely green pastures. He walked with me in green pastures and did all he could to bring joy to our family's lives. 

I have to be grateful for that and the 9 years (the mountaintop) of being blessed with his joy and energy for life. He walked with me through some tough things.

He loved everyone so much. He met 4 grandchildren and shared his parents with them. He loved them and always wanted to be where the action was. He entertained freely. No amount of rough play was too much. He was the ultimate chid's dog. If they were here playing, he was joining them.

He was the best traveler. He rode in the front seat in town looking out the window like he was making sure all was well. Stoic and completely out of character for a Springer to sit that still. When you got on the road to leave town, he would jump in the back seat and sleep until you stopped.

Everywhere we went people noticed him. Gus was as handsome a Springer Spaniel as you would find. The best physique, the best coloring and combination of liver and white on his saddle. He had little freckles on his nose that made anyone stop to look. 

He loved walking with me. It didn't matter if it was the same old path here at home or in Auburn, he was always up for the stroll and smelling the same spots each day. On those walks, I would often pray and release my worries and he was right there with me.

He was energetic and well behaved. He would slip off from the house to go down the street if you were out in the yard, but all I had to do was blow the crow call and he would come running back home.

He loved swimming as all our dogs did so a towel by the door was always needed. 

Jeff has always been an early riser and would go get coffee in the mornings and drive around town. He calls it his prayer drive. Drive around and pray ---Gus was always with him for that. He would come back home and jump on the bed to see if I was awake yet. If not, he would just lay there, but I shouldn't open my eyes because that meant go time. The day is waiting, Mom.

He went every morning since Tucker was born to pick up each grandchild to bring them back to our house. He understood we were headed to pick up the child and his role was to come along.

Gus has been such a joy to me. His presence has helped me through some tough stuff these past few years. I am completely undone, but so very GRATEFUL for the time I had with him.

He was the healthiest dog we could think of until just a couple of weeks ago. Optimal weight, boundless energy, love was the name of the game. That made what happened so hard, but I am doing my best to land on the good times that I was gifted with him.

May we all love life as Gus did and fill it with zest and joy.