Luke, My Bud 9-26-09

by David L. Rapp
(Ohio)

I lost a bud today. He was 12 years old. His name was Luke. What do I say? I'm not an eloquent person.

I'm trying to put into words what I feel. Do I cry for him or for me?

I stood in the kitchen and turned to look at the door way, just as he fell over. He was trying to go outside to use the bathroom and wet the floor trying.

I rushed to him and put his head in my lap as he groaned and arched his back stiff as a board. Oh how my heart ached as I tried to help him, and looked into those soft brown eyes.

He could not walk. I carried him to the car and drove to the vet, dreading deep down what I already knew, the decision...

A ruptured spleen, the doc said. He also mentioned that there could be another tumor on his liver, after doing an ultrasound.
So I made the decision to put Luke to sleep, because I knew he was in pain.

I gently stroked his head and watched those beautiful eyes go dark and unseeing. Oh how my heart aches for what I did.

He just wasn't a dog. He was a dog who let me be his friend....