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Journal by fliptop

I'll never forget the day we met. When you strayed over to my neighbor's house, I was curious. I watched you from afar for a day or two. When they left for a vacation, they made the mistake of leaving you some food outside. I may be just a mutt, a lowly beagle/spaniel mix, but we're all opportunists, and I took advantage by wandering up and eating everything left out for you. You watched me in subdued silence, and while I was licking my chops, I said, "Hey little girl, why don't you follow me down to my house? It's fun there."

So when Master whistled me home, I trotted down the driveway with you in tow. At first we didn't know what to make of you, since you were such an ugly calico. You had a mark on your face that looked like someone hit you while wearing brass knuckles. So we named you "Knuckles" and you decided to stay.

I'll never forget the time you figured out how to open the refrigerator, and we gorged on raw venison and jerky until it felt like our bellies would pop. Remember how spicy it was? How we drank every drop of water we could find? I always felt guilty about that incident since you were banished to the basement afterwards.

I'll never forget the times we spent together in the basement, huddled together to keep warm while Master was out at work. We shared both blankets and beds and never complained. It's weird how I was more than twice as big as you but it seemed like you were always the one who kept me warm.

Luckily you were allowed back upstairs at dinnertime every night, and I'll never forget how we wrestled and played while waiting for Master to prepare our meals. I was always fed before you and finished first, so you got to eat up on the bar, where your food was out of reach of my curious nose.

I'll never forget watching you through the window as you stalked all manner of critters in the yard. Do you remember that time I ate the chipmunk you laid at the door to show Master what a good little hunter you were?

When you got sick, I didn't know how bad it was at first. We tried cleaning your wound every night, but it wouldn't heal. When the Doctor said, "It's cancer," I may have been more devastated than you. I knew your days were numbered, but you didn't seem to care that much.

I watched with morbid curiosity as Master made a box for you, out of an ash board from a log he milled himself. You probably spent time in that tree at one point during your 15 years wandering in the woods.

I'll never forget watching that box gently lowered into the ground and covered with soft, muddy dirt. It was a beautiful January day, the sun shone as the wind blew crisp. I'm old too, and may be joining you soon. But not right now. I need just a little more time to never forget.

Your friend forever, Mooch

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The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
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  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by DannyB on Tuesday January 17 2023, @04:58PM (9 children)

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday January 17 2023, @04:58PM (#1287234) Journal

    The major problem with pets is that they don't live long enough.

    Not nearly long enough.

    It would be nice if they could share a much longer portion of a human lifetime.

    --
    People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
    • (Score: 4, Insightful) by RS3 on Tuesday January 17 2023, @07:13PM (6 children)

      by RS3 (6367) on Tuesday January 17 2023, @07:13PM (#1287243)

      Cutting short a growing life's story: as a child (4-ish) I had a small dog who I was too attached to. When I was 10, we moved, and my dog was killed by a neighbor's Doberman that everyone hated anyway. I was pretty devastated, and have never had a dog or other significant pet of my own ever since.

      A good friend who is a veterinarian (Ivy-league school degree) once explained to me how most animals (there are exceptions), certainly dogs and cats, do not have the advanced immune systems that we humans have. Most dogs and cats (other animals too) end up with cancers and tumors if they otherwise make it to 15 or so years. Obviously many live longer- someone I know has a 22 year old cat, but that's rare.

      Love and appreciate them while they're here, but like too much in this world, and in spite of our innate desires, nothing is permanent. Tough pill to swallow...

      • (Score: 4, Insightful) by fliptop on Tuesday January 17 2023, @08:12PM (5 children)

        by fliptop (1666) on Tuesday January 17 2023, @08:12PM (#1287249) Journal

        Most dogs and cats (other animals too) end up with cancers and tumors if they otherwise make it to 15 or so

        Ironically, Mooch is a breast cancer survivor. The tumor Knuckles had was over her eye. The vet said even if she could remove it, she wouldn't have an eyelid left, and the tumor would grow back anyway. It pained me to put her down yesterday b/c I knew she still had a lot of life left in her. It was for the best, though. I've had dogs and cats my whole life and have buried a lot of them. It never gets easier.

        --
        Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
        • (Score: 3, Insightful) by RS3 on Tuesday January 17 2023, @10:11PM (4 children)

          by RS3 (6367) on Tuesday January 17 2023, @10:11PM (#1287269)

          Oh gosh, I'm very sorry to hear. I wasn't sure if your well-written story was literal. You gave her much love and much longer life than she might have had (seeing and hearing stories of animal cruelty). I've never had to put one down, and I don't remember my parents ever having to. That has to be one of the worst decisions anyone can ever face.

          • (Score: 3, Insightful) by fliptop on Tuesday January 17 2023, @10:27PM (3 children)

            by fliptop (1666) on Tuesday January 17 2023, @10:27PM (#1287271) Journal

            I wasn't sure if your well-written story was literal

            Obviously I took a few liberties, who can really know how Mooch convinced Knuckles to come over from the neighbor's house? All I know is they told me they put out food, Mooch went over and ate it all, then when I called her home a little kitten was following her down the driveway.

            Everything that I wrote about actually happened.

            --
            Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
            • (Score: 3, Insightful) by RS3 on Tuesday January 17 2023, @10:55PM (2 children)

              by RS3 (6367) on Tuesday January 17 2023, @10:55PM (#1287274)

              Again, it's a great story and I fully believe it. I enjoyed reading it from the furry friend's perspective. I had mental imagery of being at a dog or cat's height above the ground, running through grass and having the blades be up close, somehow opening a refrigerator, and really everything you wrote.

              I just remembered seeing the movie "Old Yeller" [wikipedia.org] when I was a kid. Part of me wishes I hadn't seen it- it was devastating to me. But maybe it's better to learn some reality of life at a young age?

              Thank you for your both great but also sad story. You honor your sadly departed friend.

              • (Score: 3, Insightful) by fliptop on Tuesday January 17 2023, @11:17PM (1 child)

                by fliptop (1666) on Tuesday January 17 2023, @11:17PM (#1287277) Journal

                I just remembered seeing the movie "Old Yeller" [wikipedia.org] when I was a kid. Part of me wishes I hadn't seen it

                I purposely have never watched Marley and Me [imdb.com] b/c I figured it was just a modern-day Old Yeller. I was a kid when I saw it too, and have never forgotten the heartache and anguish. Telling Knuckles' story from Mooch's point-of-view was an idea gleaned from The Art of Racing in the Rain [goodreads.com].

                Gentle love, good food, plenty of free petties, and freedom to run are the best gifts any dog or cat can expect. Do those things and even cats will always remain loyal. I appreciate your kind words.

                --
                Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
                • (Score: 2) by RS3 on Tuesday January 17 2023, @11:48PM

                  by RS3 (6367) on Tuesday January 17 2023, @11:48PM (#1287279)

                  You're quite welcome, wish I could do more.

                  I just remembered: my grandmother (father's mother) grew up in NYC of German parents (I think they emigrated). It's not just a stereotype, they can be very strict, tough, rules, inflexible, "a place for everything and everything in its place" my grandmother would say. She was always very sweet, kind, giving, etc., to me and my siblings, but I guess we behaved well enough.

                  Again, we knew her as a sweet, "have some cookies" "have some applesauce" (she had apple trees) grandmother.

                  She was a Sunday School teacher at a local church. Well into adult life I found out her nickname there was "Knuckles".

                  Best part- she knew it and basically giggled about it.

                  She lived to be 98.

    • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 17 2023, @11:10PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 17 2023, @11:10PM (#1287276)

      Get a turtle. If you get the right one, it’ll be your great-grandchildren’s problem one day.

    • (Score: 3, Informative) by Freeman on Thursday January 19 2023, @08:43PM

      by Freeman (732) on Thursday January 19 2023, @08:43PM (#1287606) Journal

      https://www.thoughtco.com/longest-lived-animals-4142001 [thoughtco.com]
      (Skipped the primate section as it's illegal to "own" a human in most/all of the world and most humans would take offense at being called a pet.)

      Longest-Lived Insect: The Queen Termite (50 Years) (Maybe not your choice, but hey they're there.)

      Longest-Lived Fish: The Koi (50 Years) (Fish is a fish, maybe it tastes good?)

      Longest-Lived Bird: The Macaw (100 Years) (99 years of it insulting your mother, good one.)

      Longest-Lived Amphibian: The Cave Salamander (100 Years) (Probably not easy to take care of, if you can even get one.)

      Longest-Lived Mammal: The Bowhead Whale (200 Years) (Obviously not a good choice.)

      Longest-Lived Reptile: The Giant Tortoise (300 Years) (It's big and will live longer than you will, probably. So, better have some good planning.)

      Longest-Lived Shark: The Greenland Shark (400 Years) (Not a good choice, either.)

      Longest-Lived Mollusk: The Ocean Quahog (500 Years) (Nice! Now, if you can actually keep it alive, that'd be another milestone.)

      Longest-Lived Microscopic Organisms: Endoliths (10,000 Years) (Probably not a good choice as a pet, but hey you probably won't kill it and it can't feel anything if you do.)

      Longest-Lived Invertebrate: Turritopsis dohrnii (Potentially Immortal) (But, you'd likely kill it anyway, because only 1 scientist has actually succeeded in "cultivating" these in captivity.)

      --
      Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by acid andy on Tuesday January 17 2023, @07:16PM (1 child)

    by acid andy (1683) on Tuesday January 17 2023, @07:16PM (#1287244) Homepage Journal

    Without sharing too much personal information, I've been through a similar experience this year. 2023 totally sucks as far as I'm concerned. This mammalian companion taught me so much and connected with me in ways I had no idea even existed. Always knew it would be difficult, but not like this.

    --
    If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?
    • (Score: 2) by fliptop on Tuesday January 17 2023, @08:14PM

      by fliptop (1666) on Tuesday January 17 2023, @08:14PM (#1287250) Journal

      Always knew it would be difficult

      Thank you for your thoughts. Burying a pet never an easy thing to do.

      --
      Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
  • (Score: 2) by hendrikboom on Wednesday January 18 2023, @03:50AM (1 child)

    by hendrikboom (1125) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday January 18 2023, @03:50AM (#1287312) Homepage Journal

    At my age, I will not have a pet lest it outlive me.
    I don't want it to have to go into mourning and have my children have to take it over despite their allergies.

    • (Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday January 19 2023, @08:51PM

      by Freeman (732) on Thursday January 19 2023, @08:51PM (#1287608) Journal

      Get yourself a VR headset that works with Steam and befriend the little robot dog in Steam's VR Lab thing. Best pet ever. There's also VR Zoo, but that may be an HTC only thing? Kiddo has played in that thing for a good amount of hours. You can pick up any creature, change time of day, there are dinosaurs as well as normal animals. Kiddo absolutely loves it. Nothing beats real animals, though. I mean, not that I've chosen any of the pets that have lived with us. Wife is like, we should get a dog. My response is a semi-non-commital, maybe. Next day, hey, look at this dog we have now! Me . . .

      --
      Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
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