Friday, August 21, 2009

So very, very sad, again

I can't believe I'm writing this, just 13 months after we lost our beloved Methos. I came home from work Wednesday to find that my dear, funny, sweet, wonderful Bug had passed away while we were gone. She was perfectly fine in the morning when we left for work and was only about 8 years old. It was a terrible, terrible shock to come home to. I had a complete feeling of dread when she didn't meet me at the door.
The good thing is that it appears as though she went quietly in her sleep. She was in the exact position she slept in, in front of the window that she waits at for me to come home. I rushed her to the vet, but I knew in my heart that it was too late, that she had left me. They said it could have been a clot, heart disease, or other issue that doesn't show itself until it's too late.
I have a feeling it had to do with the fact that she had heartworms when she came into the rescue back in 2002. Heartworms are nasty, horrible things, and the treatment for them is really hard on the dogs. Who knows if she had lasting internal damage from it. We were told by the rescue people that heartworms have been epidemic in the midwest in the past few years. Most of the dogs they were getting in had it. Most shelters put the dogs down w/o treating it.
Bug had come from a pound in southern Illinois, where she was scheduled to be put down, but the shelter people really liked her, so they called Adopt A Husky. That was a good day for us.
I picked Bug. I had talked the hubby into the fact that Methos needed a friend. Her name was really Amelia, but I started calling her Mealy, then Mealy Bug, then just Bug. She answered to all of them and knew she was in trouble and had better respond immediately when I used Amelia. When we brought her home, it was obvious that she had never really been around people before. She didn't even know what a belly rub was. I used to push her over and rub it. She looked at me like, "what are you doing". After a few of those, she became a belly rub glutton.
She was also really unaffectionate in the beginning. But I took her through 3 obedience classes and half of an agility class. She loved it, especially the agility. I walked out of there though because the people who ran it were terrible to her. They believed that if you don't have a Sheltie or Retriever, your dog wasn't worthy. It's hard to find an indoor agility class and when you have a dog that was born to run, and has been clocked at 35mph, you don't take a chance with an outdoor, non-fenced in agility class. The only thing Bug didn't do well with was the long sit and stay. She was the laziest Husky. She figured if she had to sit there, why not lay down and be comfortable. Most of the time she'd end up on her back, makingeveryone laugh. I would have to stand right up in front of her and hold a piece of dog food on my nose to keep her upright. Bug would do anything for food. It was her big Achilles Heal. She would lay with her head under the rungs of my chair at the dinner table. After all those classes together, she was my girl through and through. She loved her belly rubs, going for walks, rides in the car, laying in contorted positions, and food. She completely embodied the Husky curiosity. Even though she wasn't a licker, every now and then, especially when I had been gone for a few days, she would come up beside me and give my hand a small kiss.
Almost every morning she would slink up onto the bed, and skooch me over so she could lay on the edge of the bed and get her belly rubbed. She and Daisy had wrestlemania every morning, evening and around dinner time, not to mention a few other times a day. They would only wrestle in my presence. Daisy is just now starting to understand that her wrestling partner is gone.
Just thinking about never seeing her little prehistoric squirrel eyes looking at me while she doggy smiled and wagged her tail, makes me tear up. We called her the prehistoric squirrel after seeing the first Ice Age movie. She totally looked and acted like the squirrel in the movie. Her lips were too small, and didn't always cover her teeth, it was really cute.
My quilting and sewing company name is named for her, Bugglet Quilts.
I thought I'd have at least a few more years with her. She was so vibrant and full of life. I will always miss her companionship. She's now with Methos, probably wrestling. Rest in peace my beautiful, sweet, and wonderful girl.

6 comments:

Katy said...

I'm so sorry for your loss! She was a beautiful dog! Prayers go out for you!

Ashley Everett said...

I am so sad. I started crying when reading your blog on Bug. I will miss her even though I didn't even know her that well. But I am so glad she found you and found a life of belly rubs and love.

Roseanne said...

o I am so sad for you. I lost my little dog two years ago and i still miss her. I am glad that bug did not suffer that she went in her sleep. i will be thinking of you.
x Razzy

QuiltMom said...

I'm so sorry. I've loved the pictures and stories about her. She clearly had the best "mom" a dog could ask for.

Sophie's Creative Corner said...

I will miss her whenever I come over

Anonymous said...

I love the pictures of Bug. I think you should frame the one with Bug by the pink flowers...she looks so pretty in it. I also love the one where you have a picture of just her face. She was the sweetest thing. I'll miss her. Take care,
Disco Jen (I couldn't remember my password0