The Lucky One
© Susan Todd-Raque
Not long ago our family had to put our 18 year old dog Lucky to sleep. Probably like many of you, my attachment to my dog was very special. We actually purchased Lucky from a terrier rescue in Senoia, Georgia. I remember the day as though it was yesterday. My wife and I went looking for a Jack Russell puppy for our daughter’s 12th birthday. When we arrived, the lady let loose three Jack Russell puppies. My wife was wearing a long summer dress and the little pups started biting at her dress almost tripping her several times. I happened to look up and saw this very handsome terrier that just did not have the markings of a pure bred Jack Russell. After being picked up while looking for food in a dumpster, he was now in tall cage. His brown eyes got my attention immediately and he was looking at me as if to be saying: “I want to be your dog”. While all the other dogs were barking and yelping, this little guy was just quietly wagging his shortened tail.
I asked the lady: “is that dog available”? She said he was and that he was probably two years old and part Jack Russell/Basenji. We left with our Lucky.
Over the next 16 years Lucky became a part of our family. We took him with us whenever we could, even vacations. Oftentimes he came to the office with me and would sleep during patient sessions. He rarely barked and he was a perfect gentleman as patients greeted him with affection.
Lucky was more than the family dog. He was a companion, my friend and my playmate. He took to chasing anything quickly, like a retriever. One day I found a soccer ball floating in the river. As I brought it up the ladder, Lucky began barking. I threw the soccer ball in the front yard and before I knew it Lucky was playing soccer, guiding the ball with his nose. When I was practicing chipping the golf ball in the front yard, he began shagging my golf balls. He would drop the ball and bark at me like he was saying: “Dad, hit another one”.
There are many other stories that filled our lives with joy.
It was about two years ago when Lucky began to lose his eyesight. He gradually got to the point when he could not see well enough to play soccer or shag golf balls. This is when Lucky began teaching me about the pangs of growing older. When you love, you love unconditionally. You do whatever needs to be done. This applies to the love of a person and, yes, your pet. I would get angry that Lucky began to have accidents in the house. For nearly two years he would wake up at 5 am or earlier needing to go out and my wife would dutifully get up and gently take him out. We would prepare his special food and medicines to sooth his arthritis. Lucky helped me realize that you get back what you give. He gave me joy for 14 human years, 98 of his years and he deserved to be given comfort in his last two with me.
This past week has been very difficult. We buried Lucky in our yard. My wife, daughter and I all dug the hole, then we wrapped him in his favorite blankets and put that same soccer ball I found in the river 14 years ago in his grave with him.
I feel like he is still around and his spirit lies close by. And I know I was the lucky one to have had him in my life.
