The year was 2011 and it was the worst I have ever experienced. My dad, my best friend, passed away suddenly at the start of February. The year was then coming to a close when Ronnie, my faithful companion dog of 13 years was diagnosed with lymphoma and in a matter of weeks, she was gone too.
Two blows, one to start the year, one to end it. I went into a tailspin and was an absolute wreck. I’ve never been one to buy into the various mental and emotional maladies that everyone claims to have these days, but I now know it was depression, and it was bad.
I knew I wasn’t right and after struggling for a few weeks, something had to be done. The only thing I could think of was to get another dog. Maybe it could help me through.
I needed an active dog, one that could get my mind and body moving and that meant a border collie, a dog breed that I had always desired. We got Scout and he was just what the doctor ordered.
Living up to his breed, he was a nut. Always full of energy and so willing to please. Yeah, his herding instinct was a challenge to reign in (ask my son who had his butt bitten – haha), and sometimes he could be overwhelming with his demands for attention, but he was perfect to us.
For the past 13+ years he has been our constant companion. He was there for my kids when they went from adolescence to teenagers to adulthood. He was my respite from work, when I would come home and we would play Frisbee and ball until I wore him out and the worries of the workday faded. He kept watch over us, travelled tens of thousands of miles with us. He was family.
Over the last couple of years, he began winding down, the past year especially. His joints and muscles began to show the stress that he put on them with all that vigorous playing. His kidneys began to have issues. In recent months, we knew the days with him were growing short.
This past week, it was obvious. It was time to say goodbye, to wait any longer would not be fair to him. His body showed it but more so, his eyes said it was time.
So, yesterday evening, we gathered as a family under a backyard tree and with lots of pets, hugs and “l love you’s”, we said goodbye and he crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
I am writing this as a homage to Scout but also, as a final thank you note to him.
Thank you for the amazing 13 years of unquestioned love and friendship. Thank you for allowing us the privilege of being your humans. Thank you, my friend, most importantly, for rescuing me.
I will see you again soon. I’ll bring the Frisbee.