Tuesday, January 17, 2017

For the Love of a Dog - A Tribute to Maggie

It seems kind of silly, doesn't it?  People get worked up over pets like they're important.  They are just pets after all, aren't they?  Cats.  Dogs.  They come.  They go.  You get another one.  It's that simple, right?  If only it could be.  But even if it could be, would we really want it that way?  Would I really want it that way?  Is the love of a dog as a family pet really that big of a deal?  Considering my current emotional status as I pen this blog, the answer is a resounding YES.  As my wife would say, I'm a hot mess right now.  I have been since yesterday - and at moments over the past few months - when I realized that the time was drawing near to say goodbye to Maggie.  She's been our little chubby, playful, energetic, scarfing up her food Chihuahua family pet for over 18 years.  I got her for Jennifer on Valentine's Day in 1999 right after she was born on December 23, 1998.  We've had 18 Christmases with Maggie as our family pet.  Four years before Maggie we got Daisy, a Chihuahua that came from my MeMaw's last litter of Chihuahua puppies that she raised.  Daisy was with us for over 16 years until her health declined to the point that mercy and compassion was in her best interest.  And we let her go on July 1, 2011.  Maggie was still a spry, energetic 12 year old Chihuahua with a lot of spring in her step remaining.  Now, her spring and her step are gone - long gone.  All that's left of our little Maggie is fleeting breaths, blind, painful, struggling steps due to the wear and tear of many years of arthritis, atrocious breath, and sleep in her warm doggy bed.  No more barking at 5 a.m. at the laundry room gate because she's hungry and ready to be fed and go potty.  No more messes.  No more peeing on the floor.  No more getting stuck behind the laundry room door or the dryer.  No more falling over when trying to potty.  Nope.  No more. The time has come for mercy and compassion and tender love to be exhibited by her family.  And  today, January 17, 2017, is that day.  Honestly, I wish it weren't.  I know its the right, humane, decent thing to do.  I know its in Maggie's best interest.  But I hate it.  Because I love this little dog.  I love her with all my heart.  My wife and I have never known our married life without Daisy or Maggie.  Today that will end.     
My wife and I sat down with our four kids at the table last night to talk through the reality, rhyme, and reason of this decision.  It was hard - really hard.  We let the kids share their feelings and emotion.  It was real.  It was raw.  It was beautiful.  They've never known their 17, 15, 13 or 11 years respectively without Maggie in our home and in their life.  We went around the table.  Each shared their love for Maggie.  Things they said included, "I don't want her to suffer any more."  "I love her but I don't want her to be in pain any more."  "I will miss her a lot."  And in her thirteen year old maturity, Brenna said, "I've been praying for Maggie every night (to get better).  I know this is the right thing to do.  I don't want to give her up, but I know that I can't be selfish and have her for myself."  Wow.  All my kids love our pets.  Brenna loves pets with passion - especially dogs.  She has really struggled in recent days regarding Maggie and what was soon to be the inevitable.  She was the last one to speak at the table of the four kids; and what she shared brought her mom and I relief and thankfulness.  She demonstrated an attitude of selflessness instead of selfishness.  I am proud of her, and all my kids, for being so understanding during this hard time in our family's life.  You see...the truth is that Maggie was family.  Sounds odd to say, but this dog that I and our family loved for eighteen years was more than just a pet.  Before Jennifer and I had children of our own, we had Daisy and Maggie.  They were, in a sense, our children.  We loved them and cared for them as our own.  I will miss Maggie.  I will miss the times when she howled while Brandon was practicing his trumpet.  I will miss her attacking the vacuum each time it was turned on.  I will miss her bossiness that she demonstrated when Belle (our Golden Retriever) thought she was in charge.  I will miss her loud, persistent 5 a.m. wake-up barking calls from the laundry room announcing that she was ready to eat and use the restroom.  I will miss you traveling in the front seat sitting and sleeping next to me on the long journey to MawMaw's house as you did innumerable times before.  And on and on and on. I.  WILL.  MISS.  HER.   
And now, as I finish this blog, it's evening; and Maggie is gone.  She no longer resides in this house; but she will always be a part of this home.  I can still smell her scent on my hoodie from holding her close this afternoon. She passed on around 2:30 p.m. this afternoon at Hometown Animal Care.  The hardest part - letting her go, literally.  I couldn't believe how hard it was to literally hand Maggie from my arms to that of the vet technician.  I didn't want to let her go.  I wanted to kiss her and hold her close as long as  I could.  Because I loved her.  She was well loved.  She was a great family member; and she will be greatly and dearly missed.  She now rests cozily, peacefully in our backyard in front of the Oak tree with lots of shade.  No more pain.  No more struggling.  Sick and suffering no more.  She's at rest.  Kind of sounds like heaven, don't you think?  Now I don't know if there'll be dogs in heaven or not; but I do know this:  I would love for Maggie to be there.  That's God's business.  I told my youngest daughter Bethany this afternoon as she said her final goodbye to Maggie, "She's at rest now.  She's at peace.  And she's in God's hands."  And she is.  And when I wake up in the morning, the first morning in 18 + years without Maggie, I'm sure I'll peek in the laundry room expecting to see Maggie curled up quietly and comfortably in her bed or needing help getting out from behind the door.  She won't be there.  I'll be listening for your early morning bark.  I know it will be silent.  And the silence will scream, and tears will be shed.  And I'll remember again just how much I love you Maggie.  And I'll make my way to the backyard, and walk out to that Oak tree where Maggie is resting and smile; for I know it was her time.  She had a good life.  We the Woods' family gave her our best love for 18 years.  Thank you God for allowing Maggie to be ours for so long.  Its been our privilege and pleasure.  The memories are sweet and bittersweet.  And thank you Maggie for giving your best to us.  We are better for it, and we love you.   
Love, John, Jennifer, Brandon, Bradley, Brenna, and Bethany                                 

2 comments:

  1. I sure hate to hear of Maggie's death. You, Jennifer, Mark and I know too well the pain of burying our children and, while there is no comparison between the death of a child and a pet, the pain of losing a precious pet is intense and heartbreaking. The mourning period is shorter but the grief is no less real. And it is compounded by watching your children go through this sad time. We will be praying for you all. Like you said, your precious Maggie is in God's hands now and, for all of us, there is truly no greater place to be. Love you all.

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  2. I sure hate to hear of Maggie's death. You, Jennifer, Mark and I know too well the pain of burying our children and, while there is no comparison between the death of a child and a pet, the pain of losing a precious pet is intense and heartbreaking. The mourning period is shorter but the grief is no less real. And it is compounded by watching your children go through this sad time. We will be praying for you all. Like you said, your precious Maggie is in God's hands now and, for all of us, there is truly no greater place to be. Love you all.

    ReplyDelete