Our Sweet Bruty

by Wayne and Cindy
(Oldtown, Maryland)

You weren't a puppy when you came to us, but you were sooo sweet. I picked you up and you laid your head on my shoulder. I knew you were supposed to be ours.

We soon realized that you were a man's dog... riding the 4 wheeler, fishing, sleeping with Wayne, no matter when he went to bed, or just laying on his lap. You were the son he never had, a little boy with fur.

You were so gentle hearted. You loved everything and had to kiss them... bunnies, fish, chicks, kittens and yes, the best kisses you saved for us. I remember the night we went to bed and you had your usual place between us with your head on the pillow and I asked for a kiss. You weren't in a kissy mood and I kept aggravating you for one and finally you bit my nose. Very lightly, but it was as if you said "There's your kiss, now let me sleep."

You loved spaghetti. You could eat your weight in it. You hated to have your nails done and we usually had a fight on our hands to do it. You would go from hard tough play with us to kissy face with one word...KISSES. And instantly you covered our faces with the best kisses ever.

You loved to ride in the car. Your place was on Wayne's knee by the door so the air vent hit you in the face. You would ride all day, right in that spot. You had to have the biggest bladder in the doggy kingdom. No matter how long we were gone, you refused to go in the house, and if it rained, forget it. You held it until it stopped.

We're not really sure how it happened, but you got old. It snuck up on us so fast. We started to notice little things. You didn't see too well or hear too well. You couldn't get up in Wayne's chair or in the car without help. You paced a lot and whined a lot. That's when we found out you had doggy alzheimers. You were 14 years old.

The vet started you on people alzheimers meds and you came back to us for awhile longer. But just like people, the disease started to take you again and this time it was relentless. You wandered the yard. No more kisses. Nightly panic attacks. More and more pills. Anything to keep you here with us.

You still loved to eat, but not enough. You had bad jaw spasms that were so painful. I started to pray that god would take you in your sleep, but you were to strong. And then it happened. Three nights of constant terror-filled barking. No meds helped and we knew we couldn't help you anymore and we knew what we had been dreading was the only thing left to do for you.

So we gathered you up and took one last ride. Mindy (your human sister who works for the vet) took you from my arms and we went in. Wayne couldn't go in. It was ripping out his heart. But I wasn't going to let you go alone, so I held you close and told you how much we loved you and that your other furry brothers and sisters were waiting and that you would,, in the blink of an eye, be instantly healed, and that you would be in heaven before you knew it.

It was so peaceful. You were snoring. You were so exhausted. And then the snoring stopped and I knew you were home. I had fulfilled the promise I made you on the ride up. I made everything better, one last time. You were 15 years and 8 months old.

We took you home and put you under the tree with a cross Wayne made just for you, and some flowers. From this moment until the day we meet again, you have a special place in our hearts that can't be filled. The place that a little boy with fur who was the son we never had was and still is.

Come back to us if you can. We love you and miss you so much, Bruto.

Rest in peace, sweety... No, better yet, have a ball! Chase those birds. Kiss everything, run and eat and have the best time ever!!!!

We will see you soon....