How do you say goodbye to your best friend? How do you let go of the most loyal, most loving dog on the planet? Yesterday my parents lost their best friend. It was a sad day. Rudy has been there for mom and dad for 8 and a half years. He never once met a stranger. He never once acted out. He never once met anyone that didn't leave raving about what a well behaved dog Rudy was. He HOWLED when we walked in the house.... his way of opening his arms with the biggest 'welcome home' hug he could give! He did laundry in the mornings. He could catch any toy thrown into the air and never miss, he never bothered being a pillow during movies. He somehow managed to hold his stature of most gentle pet, yet fearless leader to the rat pack of neighborhood dogs that followed him around.
We found out Rudy was struggling with cancer about 3 months ago. Bless his heart, he spent weeks in the vets office, but in true Rudy fashion, it came to be his new, fun getaway while he was there! He won the hearts of the vet and staff. He had a special area that was out in the open with them because they knew he liked being around everyone instead of caged up! The doctor's cried with mom, they curled up on the floor to love on Rudy during the hard days, they called and emailed to check on his health. They were like the rest of us.... in love with this huge golden sweetheart.
I'll never forget when mom got Rudy for Christmas! He was so tiny.... I wish I had pictures of him! Poor thing was so bothered by all of us trying to love on him that he would crawl in this tiny place under the coffee table to get away and nap! That was his safe place! 80 something pounds later, we had our family dog! We watched his awkward, teenage nose pop out of his flat, puppy face... we watched his tiny little paws turn into massive feet! We watched his soft fur turn into a lions robe! We watched as our sweet little yellow pup grayed around the nose as he turned into a wise old man.
I will, with mom and dad, let the tears fall in memory of 8 wonderful years. He was our brother. He was their son, companion, and best friend. He gave us years of happiness, then 3 glorious months of courageous fighting to stay right by my parents side as he got ill. He defied all the doctor's predictions. They gave him weeks... he gave us months. He still had loving left to do. He still needed a few more times to wake mom and dad up in the mornings. He needed time with the rest of the family to say his goodbyes. He just wasn't going that easily!
I cant wait to get to St. Peter's gate, because I know, standing there waiting, will be a glorious creature, smiling ear to ear, howling at the top of his lungs..... welcoming us Home.
In Mom's beautiful words:
Our beautiful Golden Retriever, Rudolph Maximus Rhea, lovingly known as Rudy, lost his battle today with the only enemy he has ever had - cancer. All of us in the Rhea household want to thank you for your many prayers on our behalf as we tried to make his last days as pleasant as possible.
I remember the day we got him - Christmas, 1990 - a tiny, floppy-eared little ball of fur. My whole family was here for Christmas, and we all spent the afternoon and night trying to come up with a name. I thought something from Christmas would be appropriate, but we watched "The Gladiator" that day, and all the guys wanted some big manly name for him.
Well, after having Rudy for 8-1/2 years, a tough manly name would have never suited him. Rudolph was perfect because he brought so much laughter and joy into our lives. But Maximus from the movie was also fitting because he was the most courageous dog I have ever known. From his first illness until his death, he gave us an extra three months of sheer pleasure with him, and we both think he was able to do that only because he had such a powerful will to live and to please us.
Again, thank you for being such faithful friends to us.
Love, Bette
