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AMY SMITH LINTON

The Small Dog Chronicles: Woof

8/25/2015

28 Comments

 
Picture
The small dog came to us before we expected to be ready for a pet who required attention. We travel too much, aren't home often enough, didn't want to take on the responsibility. But she was a Dog of Destiny, such as cannot be denied or turned away.

Lilly started slowing down at Christmas. Or anyway, it started to show more when compared with Christmases past: She didn’t jump into the chair with me, she didn’t offer to steal the cat’s or the other dogs’ food. She couldn’t make it all the way around the pond on the after-feast walk. She failed to resist being picked up when I hoisted her the rest of the way back to the house.

There were more bad days, when her arthritis kicked it up a notch, when she slept until noon and woke up only at my insistence that she get outside. She stopped trying to boss the world around, didn’t offer to bark when the doorbell rang. Her toys went unsavaged. She woke me three and four times a night to go outside --- at the same time that her reliable continence grew, um, unreliable. Her appetite faltered, she grew finicky.

Everyone knows how a dog story ends. 

To me, Lilly was the best dog in the history of pets. She snored louder than any full-grown man and was so ugly that it was adorable. Full of character and optimism, she was both endlessly forgiving and breathtakingly flatulent. She was an ambassador of small dogdom even in the strange vet’s office as they administered the sedative and then the overdose of anesthetic.

We buried her between two apple trees on the Would-Be farm, on what we’ll call Small Dog Hill. When the double rainbow appeared right afterward, I felt less surprised to see it than simply grateful.

A rainbow. Of course. Easy saccharine sentiment, yes, and lazy theology most likely, but a comfort –– just like Lilly herself.

 
28 Comments
Brenda
8/25/2015 01:36:19 am

Sorry to hear about Lilly's passing. She was the cutest little dog. I'm sure she is taking care of things in Dog Heaven!🐾

Reply
Lois Raffel
8/25/2015 01:46:20 am

OMG, Amy, I'm so sorry to hear this...

Reply
Amy
9/6/2015 06:17:43 pm

Thanks Lo!

Amy
9/6/2015 06:18:27 pm

Thanks Brenda!

Reply
Sandy Mickelson
8/25/2015 02:14:36 am

Nicely put. So sorry.

Reply
Amy
9/6/2015 06:17:14 pm

Thanks, Sandy!

Reply
Dave
8/25/2015 02:22:53 am

She had a good run, you did good!

Reply
Amy
9/6/2015 06:16:42 pm

Thanks!

Reply
Jan Davis
8/25/2015 03:33:23 am

So so sorry Amy & Jeff!

Reply
Amy
9/6/2015 06:15:53 pm

Thanks!

Reply
Marilyn Stodola
8/25/2015 07:37:02 am

So sorry to learn about Lily. Funny how these creatures interrupt our lives but become integral to our daily living and happiness.

Reply
Amy
9/6/2015 06:15:35 pm

Thanks Marilyn -- it's been a surprise how much room she took up in each day!

Reply
charles
8/25/2015 08:07:08 am

They set up housekeeping in our hearts, so it kills us when they have to leave. You folks were there for her, plus now she's got all the sun-dried kittypoop she could ever want right there in heaven !

Reply
Amy
9/6/2015 06:14:28 pm

Sundried? Heck no, only the freshest of cat poo in small-dog heaven!

Reply
Megan
8/25/2015 08:52:22 am

I am so happy to have met Lilly, and am so sorry for your loss.

Reply
Amy
9/6/2015 06:13:29 pm

Thanks Megan.

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Trista
8/25/2015 12:35:35 pm

Aw, Lily! I'm so sorry. She was an awesome dog.

Reply
Amy
9/6/2015 06:11:46 pm

Thanks, Trista! She was an excellent small creature.

Reply
Laura & Will
8/26/2015 02:13:02 am

So sorry to hear about Lilly...

Reply
Amy
9/6/2015 06:11:09 pm

Thanks kids. You know how it is --

Reply
Lindy
8/26/2015 02:44:14 am

It's always so sad to lose a dear friend. Take solace in the good memories.

Reply
Amy
9/6/2015 06:10:34 pm

Thanks, LIndy. I am taking solace.

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george a.
8/26/2015 08:22:04 am

Fair well, Lilly. One, two three, four, five, six, seven; all good dogs go to heaven.

Reply
Amy
9/4/2015 07:40:16 am

Thanks George, she certainly earned her spot.

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Penny
8/29/2015 03:51:10 am

So sorry about dear Lily. She was a special small dog and we will miss her. Big hugs.

Reply
Amy
9/3/2015 07:28:40 pm

Thank you Penny!

Reply
Kate
10/20/2015 06:32:34 pm

Oh no! I've been away far too long! Feeling a belated broken heart over the loss of Lilly... It's been a couple of months, but I'm sure you're still stepping over the spots where she used to lay.

Reply
Amy
10/21/2015 01:49:55 pm

Thank you Kate --
It's true, I miss her nearly every day.

Reply



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