Remembering Gabby
I wrote this a year ago, when I had to put my dog down. A week ago we welcomed a new dog into our home… Miss Dutchie. May we feel the same about her then as we did about Gabby last year.
Even though I’ve never been a big believer in the Hallmarkization of the world, I do participate as a true believer in American consumerism. I have dutifully purchased gifts for Tish, the kids and others. Today I have had to dig down deep inside myself for this gift.
Almost seven years ago Tish and I were blessed with a gift of Gabby. Her name was Gus when we met her, but her previous owner Jack was unable to keep her and needed a good home. She was a 2-year-old dog,well-trained and mannered, but quite hyper. I had never known a boxer before and was pretty sure that she wasn’t the prettiest dog I had ever seen. Her scrunched up face could not contain her ridiculously long tongue. She had a food allergy to meat and protein, but we took her in. It was one of the best things that has ever happened to me.
We changed her name to Gabby that first weekend and she responded to it immediately. Gabby has always been a very bright dog. Tish and I knew that we wanted to have kids and felt this would be a good move in the process. She truly is my first baby. She and I have wrestled and run in the backyard and she may be the best 55 pound lap dog in the world.
One story that reflects how much I love her: The first time Tish and I left her with a housesitter or with my parents on a long trip, we were driving and found ourselves talking about her nonstop. We felt that we were doing it too much and threw down the challenge of not talking about her for the next half hour. Seven minutes later, I asked Tish, “what do you think Gabby is doing?” I couldn’t even make it 7 minutes without thinking of her.
As our family grew, Gabby loved our babies. She would even retract her massive tongue when around them so that it fluttered like butterfly wing. Vincent and Kelsey truly love Gabby and I am so happy to have raised them with a dog in their lives. I have seen other kids who are so afraid of any dog and I am happy that mine have had this opportunity.
Gabby almost left us two years ago. We got back from a summer vacation and she wouldn’t eat, was walking around really slowly and looked sick. We didn’t know what to do.The vet took an X-ray and found an obstruction in her intestine the size of a tennis ball. They did the surgery and found a wad of catpoop mixed with sand (If someone can ever explain to me why dogs eat poop, I would like to know). She has a nice scar on her abdomen now but will still eat some poop if given the chance.
Her back legs have been failing her in the last year. Many boxers get hip displaciea as they get older and she certainly has. Gabby can’t run like she used to. She struggles up and down the many stairs in our house. I have been lifting her into the car for rides, when she used to jump right in. Her legs will go out on her and she needs to be picked up. It has been grueling watching her go through this pain. Tish and I finally decided last weekend that the end was near. Gabby has been on pain medication since the summer, but the bad days have outnumbered the good days lately. I’m doing this today because I can’t bear to watch her in pain anymore. We are going to the vet in 2 hours. It should be peaceful for her. She knows.
I will miss everything about her:
The way she dances like a pup when you ask about going for a ride.
Her jumping up and down when I get home from work every night.
Pawing at me to get me to play or take her outside.
Watching her dream.
Even the gas.. now who can I blame things on?
She has been the best dog I have ever known.
The decision to do this on Valentines Day is a little odd. I needed to do it on a weekend so that I may be functional at work. Next weekend is Vince and Kels’s birthday. I couldn’t do that to them. She can’t take the pain any longer and this will put her at peace. It will be the hardest gift to give her. From now on Valentines Day will always have a special place in my heart for my girl.
Gabby
Puppy
Puppygabby
Gabbygus
Gabelina.
