Dog Picture of the Day

Bailey was a neighbor of mine for seven years. We first met while she was out running with one of her two moms. Many times, many days, we met across the street at Fresh Pond Reservation's Glacken Field, or the path around the reservoir. And always a gentle, friendly, always tail-wagging happy to see me. From a distance, an orange and white, rhythmically bobbing, slightly arthritic, always a bit of a puppy, out for some exercise. I hate dogs. Stop with the leaving so soon already. I don't really hate dogs. I've just had a lot of friends say goodbye recently. Now Bailey, who, yes, I could see it coming a mile away. Goodbye Bailey.

Here are some words from her people:

May 18, 2012

Hi Richard,

We're coming to Fresh Pond today in hopes of seeing you... to thank you for all the smiles & treats & kind words you always had for Bailey.

Today is her last day with us and she'll be on her way to heaven tonight. Perhaps Bay and Cassidy can meet up and play. Thank you for always making Bay feel as special as she is.

Gratefully, K & C


Here is my archive of Bailey pictures:

http://flickr.com/photos/rlg/tags/BaileyKC/show

Here's a picture (by KC) of Bailey with her angel wings:

This page is dedicated to showcasing the Obama 2012 spirit of our favorite animals and those of us who love them. While this page is run by the Obama 2012 campaign staff, our honorary host is Bo Obama, First Dog.

From Steve, May 2, 2012:

"Hi Richard, Sorry to say that Chunky, who loved you very much, is no longer with us. We had to put him to sleep last night. We are beyond devastated. I think it will be a while before I can walk around the pond.

He developed hemangiosarcoma, a cancer of the blood vessels. We had his spleen and a mass removed last week, and while in recovery he developed pneumonia, and then other complications.

He never had a bad day in his life, or even missed a meal, until two weeks ago.

Thank you for all the love and care you showed to chunky at the pond over the past few years. He would pick up his pace and run to see you. You had star status in his eyes.

See you around the pond when I can bear it.

Regards, Steve..."

Chunky, a funny name for a svelte, athletic Golden Retriever, who always seemed to me to be a complete, a total dog, without peculiarities or idiosyncrasies, always healthy, always, active. I have no idea of his age. He seemed ageless all the years I knew him. But some small thing inside him, in just one moment, started a trip downhill, then grew to become a catastrophe, which begat other disasters, not unlike what can strike us humans in a moment, then, a moment later, we are gone.

I know, over the top; he was just a dog. But then you and I are just humans. I nevertheless had a special feeling for him. And now he's gone. On reading Steve's words above, this song, by Leonard Cohen, the music, the tone, not the lyrics, came to mind: Hallelujah

Well HALLELUJAH, Chunky, and a reluctant goodbye. Some of us will always miss you.

Here are pictures of Chunky from my flickr archive.

Barbara wrote me today, May 3, 2012, to say Benny is no longer with us.

Here are Benny's photos and videos:

http://flickr.com/photos/rlg/tags/BennyBS/show

Benny, a good boy, says Goodbye, a tune by Benny Goodman:

Goodbye

Here are some words about Benny, by Barbara:

"Hi Richard:

I'm glad you sent out your email, because I don't get to Fresh Pond too often these days and I wanted to contact you. I'm so sad to say that our good friend Benny has passed on. About a month ago, he had internal bleeding in his left rear leg; turns out he had a cutaneous hemangiosarcoma around the knee, which is the least lousy version of a pretty lousy cancer. He seemed to be doing better, but last week we were walking a bit more (life as a house plant, which is what it had become, wasn't suiting either of us); this caused more swelling. On Saturday 4/28 he had a recurrence of the bleeding. Though he seemed okay when we were at the hospital, by the time I got him home he had begun to hemorrhage more seriously. He died around 10pm Saturday night.

He was my beloved boy, my best friend, and a real man-about-town. To get an idea of how well he was known in Somerville, one of the vet techs at Mass. Vet Referral in Woburn recognized him from her neighborhood, which was on one of our walking routes. I broke the news to Hub Comics yesterday; he always dragged me there to get a biscuit. And we frequently violated the town's public health laws by taking advantage of the Precinct's "don't ask/don't tell" pet policy. Many a burger was consumed at ground level when Benny and I went there. Porter Square Books and Brookline Booksmith were graced with his appearance one final time last week, as he treated customers to his regal, stretched-out presence in the middle of the busiest aisles.

He loved you too; he always happily ran up to see you, and not just because of the cookies you gave him. He knew a good friend when he met one, and you were a very good friend to him. I have to thank you as well for all the pictures you took of him and loaded onto Flickr. Other than what you shot, I have only a few photos of him.

I'm doing a bit better than I was this weekend and earlier this week, though I have plenty of ups and downs. As for Benny's final rest, he'll be cremated on 5/19/12 in Northborough, and I plan to go there to (possibly, if I get the nerve) witness the event and then bring his ashes home. I'm going to plant a tree in my yard and place his ashes around it. I hope to make it a celebration and invite Benny's friends. I'll keep you posted about that.

Sorry to break this news to you, Richard, but you were on my list of people to notify. I knew you'd want to know. He had a good life, a happy one, and tons and tons of love. We should all be so lucky.

Best,
Barbara"

Benny, in his life at Fresh Pond Reservation, is best represented by this Benny Goodman tune:

Flat Foot Floogie

He just had a saunter, a swagger, all his own.