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GentlewoodFarms
April 7, 2012

Bobby Dog

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I love this old dog.

I met Bobby not long after I lost my dog, Pepper (also an Australian Shepherd). He looks SO much like her, it was like having a piece of her back in my life - even as tiny as it was, it helped my grief.

I was in the process of navigating my relationship with my new dog, Trouble (a border collie). Bobby belonged to one of Erica's friends at the time, but it wasn't long before Barbara asked Erica to take him. Bobby is not a "pack" dog, and he was getting picked on by Barbara's other two dogs and was jumping out of the fence to get away from the stress. Erica took him, and that was the beginnings of our adventures as a group of four - me and Trouble, Erica and Bob. Trouble was two, Bobby was three. We were quite a group, and Bobby and Trouble became very good friends.

After Trouble died of blood cancer at age 10, Bobby took on the job of "tolerant uncle" to my new puppy Cowboy. Cowboy was a bundle of energy and he was a pest. Bobby took it all in stride and taught Cowboy all the ins and outs of how to be a good dog. In fact, it was Bobby who taught Cowboy to come. I'd call Bobby, "Come Bobby, Come Cowboy," and Cowboy would just follow him in.

When Erica went to vet school, her last year of residency Bobby came to live with us. She was SO busy, and her hours were SO erratic. He needed someplace where he would get fed at regular intervals, let out of the house to go potty at regular intervals, and get more than just passing attention. I was delighted to offer our home to him. Then Erica moved to Ohio to take a new job as a practicing veterinarian, and Bobby was gone. Erica and I stayed in touch - we ARE best friends after all, but it was sad not getting a chance to see Bobby. Erica's job was right across the street from her house, so she was able to be home at noon, and even on call wasn't too bad because she was "just across the street."

But the job was very stressful, and she moved again a year ago - to a new practice in Wisconsin. She's very happy, but it's been hard on Bob. The Wisconsin winters are just too tough on his old bones, and Erica's living situation isn't as convenient. She's one of only two veterinarians and the practice is very busy. Bobby was being neglected again - not that he cares. As long as he's got water and food and a dog bed, he's content. But he became pretty inactive, and his joints and mental facilities began to pay the price for his life of lazy.

When I talked to Erica in December and asked how Bobby was, she said, "funny you should ask...." We talked about his issues and it was decided that he would come back to Oklahoma and live with me.

When he arrived, he was on joint supplements and high calorie senior dog food, which he seldom ate. He was unable to walk down to the corner with Cowboy and my DH. He spent most of his time asleep. He would walk into a room, stop, and stand there like a dementia patient who's forgotten who he is and how he got here. But gradually, he's coming back to himself. The routine of activity at my house requires that Bobby get up, get around, get some exercise, pay attention, and get in the game. It's been very good for him. He's been off the joint supplements for almost a month now, and he's much more alert and ready to go out the door anytime anyone is going.

I know, in my head, that the years are catching up to him. Trouble has been gone five years now, which makes Bobby sixteen. He's got cataracts, he's deaf, and he has to get up in the night two or three times to go outside -which is ok because I have to get up to go too. He's an old dog now, and at some point, it will be time to lay him to rest next to Trouble, down by the creek bed under the redbud tree.

But for now, it's just good that he's here. He's family.

******
Done for the following Challenges :

1. Scrap Your Pet - Twist of Rubons (the little cross stitches)

2. One Month At A Time, Week 1 - Scrap Your Stash, Blossoms, Old Fool, Purple

3. Scraplift the Person Before You.
I lifted LyndaMarie's Just a Summer Day, which you can see here : http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/151119/view/3468761/-1.html

4. Monochrome Bellflower Purple - Twist Old and Young Alike

5. One Item At A Time - The purple butterflies and the Family sticker

6. Single Photo Challenge


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