Rufus’s Lessons

 

“Over the years I’ve come to appreciate how animals enter our lives prepared to teach and far from being burdened by an inability to speak they have many different ways to communicate. It is up to us to listen more than hear, to look into more than past.”
― Nick Trout

 

Today my son and I watched as the vet put our dog to sleep. It came somewhat out of the blue. I knew that he had not been acting quite like himself and put it down to something that he had gotten into. Unfortunately after picking him up after our camping trip, it seemed his condition had deteriorated. It turns out that due to a number of possible causes his kidney and liver had all but shut down. I called my partner who was out of town on business and then called my son and gave him the option to come to the vet and say goodbye. Probably one of the most painful things either of us have had to do.
I’ve learned quite a bit from Rufus over the years. His endless patience with humans and his total lack of it with any other animals notwithstanding, He was an amazing being. He taught me acceptance of anything that comes in life. He taught me that the best defence to being caught doing something that others disapprove of is to act puzzled, as if I have no idea how I came to be in these circumstances. For Rufus, the escape artist supreme this usually involved all of us including him how he ended up in the front yard in the first place. He taught me to love openly and accept almost everybody. He taught me how to claim both time and space for myself when necessary. He taught me that sometimes cuddling on the kitchen floor with a loved one can make almost any day a bit better. This is not such a bad legacy for a 10 yr old Irish Terrier.
Blessings, G

 

Click on images to see full-sized:

 

Awaiting at the Rainbow BridgeAwaiting the Rainbow Bridge by G A Rosenberg

 

Dark StarDark Star by G A Rosenberg

0 thoughts on “Rufus’s Lessons”

    1. Thank you so much. The prayers are much appreciated as he heads towards that rainbow bridge.

  1. Hi Gary. A friend sent this to me and it brought tears to my eyes. So beautifully written and I can relate to it so well. We recently had to put our 13-year-old German shepherd-mix Coco to sleep after an illness. It’s been so difficult especially since we had to put our other dog, Roscoe, a collie-shepherd mix, to sleep after an illness just one year ago. They bring so much joy to our lives, we learn so much from our pets, and it leaves such a hole in our heart when they are gone. Sometime soon, I hope to write a blog piece about Coco and Roscoe. Your images here are beautiful, visually and spiritually, and I especially love “Awaiting the Rainbow Bridge.”

    1. Thank you so much and my condolences to you as well… Someday we will be reunited with our beloved pets on that rainbow bridge.

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