Wednesday, December 16, 2009

IN MEMORIUM

My Beloved Dog, Typpee

She was a Poodle-Something mix, blonde like me, and - also like me - with one gimpy leg.We sorta looked like the dog-human match that you see in cartoons, both of us limping along together.

I found her at The Pound - the Humane Society up the road from us.  I wanted a nice little doggie girl, a companion I could lavish affection on and maybe even dress up. Well, she was a sensible critter, too sensible to allow the baby-clothes-routine, but readily amenable to lavish affection, which she returned in spades. They told me she was 13 years old when I got her, her right back leg withered from a possible coyote attack in her youth.  But I think she was closer to 8 or 9...and that was 9 years ago. At any rate, she was pretty old, but as of last Sunday still dancing on 3 legs and with the sweetest disposition imaginable.

She had been asthmatic for the past few years, her familiar coughing and wheezing a comforting signal of her dear presence. Always the lady, she loved being groomed and would hold still for almost anything, including baths, clippers and baby kitties.

Yesterday she went to sleep as I petted her, and her labored breathing stopped. 

We put her in the flower courtyard under a delicate kumquat tree that bears heavily every year. It's a pretty spot, one that we pass several times daily, and a good place to remember her.

I will miss her terribly.



13 comments:

Unknown said...

Kate,
I am so sorry to hear about Typpee. She was such a sweetie -- glad that I got to meet her. Her withered little leg never compromised her beauty and her spirit. How nice she shares the kumquats amidst the sunlight in the height of mid century style...

Condolences to you, Jerry, and your lovely fur children.

--Leslie

Bernita said...

Kate, I am so sorry. A piece of your heart.

Kate Thornton said...

Thank you Leslie - she was a joy in my life and always will be. I am so glad you got to meet her.

Thank you, Bernita - although subdued, the remaining doggie, Coco, is doing her best to cheer (or at least distract) me.

Thank you both for your kind thoughts.

--Kate

Unknown said...

Sorry to hear about your loss I lost my Sheena about this time again am sorry to hear about your loss.

Kate Thornton said...

Thank you, Ren - and condolences on Sheena.

--Kate

laughingwolf said...

sad indeed :(

try to have a merry xmas anyway, kate...

Frank Baron said...

I'm sorry for your loss. They can occupy a pretty good-sized chunk of our heart.

Unknown said...

I am sorry, I myself have 13 pets, many whom are elderly now, we know the future will be difficult, but we are a huge family, and I wouldnt have it any other way. God Bless

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Anonymous said...
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Paul D. Marks said...

Hi Kate,

I'm sorry to hear about your loss of Typee. They really are part of our families. We lost our dog Bogey a couple of years ago and I still say goodnight to her every night. And pound dogs are the best. Take care.

--Paul Marks

好想談戀愛 said...
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飛碟快滴 said...
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Jacqueline Vick said...

I'm so sorry. I almost didn't rescue a dog because I knew it would die someday.