Goodbye, Sweet Buddy

It's true what they say: Dogs really are man's best friend.

And we couldn't have asked for a better one. Sadly, our time was just too short with him. We said goodbye to sweet Buddy this week. To say that he was a good dog and will be missed would be a gross understatement. They just don't get much sweeter.

There are so many things I will miss about him, I don't even know where to start...

I miss how he would bathe Scooter for hours - literally - each night. I miss how he used to put his wet nose in my face if he needed to go out or I needed to get up. I miss how he would take off on our walks at the ranch and always beat me home. I miss how he was so sneaky about taking food off of the counter. I miss how he could be so still, but his eyes were always following you. I miss how he would whimper in the middle of the night if he was having a bad dream. I miss how he would eat and then go to the rug and stretch and clean his paws. I miss how he would let me dress him up in all types of holiday attire for pictures (or in Whitney's case literally ALL TYPES of holiday attire!). I miss how he would lick his paws only in the direction that his hair grew - and then look at me like he was really irritated when I would mess them up right after. I miss how he was scared of tight spaces. I miss how he would back up on tile so he wouldn't slip turning around. I miss how he was a good retriever until we got Scooter - and then he always let Scooter get the ball. I miss how he got car sick. Well, not as much as the other things. :) I miss how Carter would tumble all over him, and he would sit there and take it. And then when Carter left, he would quietly get up and walk away. I miss how he would crawl under the bed to find Scooter. I miss how he loved to be in the front yard with me - just hangin' out.

I just miss him.

It's different here without him. Even though he wasn't up to doing much the last couple of weeks. His decline was quick; even Joel commented on how much he'd changed his last few days.

I'd like to think we gave him a good life and a good home. He certainly did that for us. He helped make our house a home and was a big part of our family. I feel sorry for those who have never experienced the love of a dog and who have never loved one in return. Buddy was a stranger to no one and was definitely loved by many.

Certainly not an easy post to write, but I want the kids to remember him when they're older. I only have "digital memories" from the past few years, but I'll always treasure my pictures and memories. Here are a few to share with you.

To the AKC, he was 'JED's Red Runnin' Rebel.' To us, he was Sweet Buddy.

August 14, 1996 - December 1, 2009

"...gone from our life, but never absent from our heart" ("Rainbow Bridge")