It's funny how a furry creature, weighing just a tad more than 8 pounds, can steal your heart and hold it captive. Our little Luke Bailey did just that...
If you follow my blog, you may remember seeing the post, Puppy Love . It was all about the new fellow in my life. To make a long story short, my husband was content with our two labs, but I fell instantly in love with this little boy.
He was one of two puppies from my sister's maltipoo's litter. I would visit whenever I could just to hold him. After hearing my husband's objections, I stopped talking about it and quietly began a Facebook campaign. You know....if I get so many likes, this little cutie gets to live with me? It worked!
Luke always thought he was as big as our labs. Whenever it would thunder, Luke would bark furiously until I had our labs safe and sound in our garage. He would round them up and usher them to the door connecting to our garage. He looked quite smitten with himself after finishing this very important job. I think the under bite helped with the smitten look!
Luke was also extremely proud of his potty abilities! When he came back in, he would often run around the coffee table as fast as he could, barking as he went. It was always hilarious to see his antics!
He also loved to play Canasta and would often distract the other players by his sheer cuteness. The truth is he just liked to be held and was most content in someone's arms.
Just like his human mom, he was fond of a good book. I must tell you that he was quite a ham! He loved to sit still and pose for photos. I think he knew what we were doing. After all, he had his own Facebook page with lots of followers!
He loved to sneak his way into pictures. I shooed him away several times while I was taking the photos for my blog post about the Reading Room. Look closely and you'll see my little pal sitting in the photo!
Luke was also an avid Mississippi State fan. In fact, during one disastrous game, a friend messaged me and asked if Luke had on his Mississippi State jersey. I told him that Luke did not. I was told to get it on him ASAP. I did and we won! After that, Luke always wore his jersey on game day. Hail State!
Luke wasn't great at gardening, but he did like to supervise. He loved to be around us, no matter what we were doing. I love his smile in this photo!
Luke was brave and adventurous....maybe a little too brave for his size. This past May, Luke decided to take an Underdog worthy leap from our front porch so he could follow the labs. I was at church cooking for our Senior Adult banquet. My husband said that he noticed Luke favoring his right leg. By the time I got home later that night, Luke was acting a little funny and didn't move much. I took him out before bedtime and he hobbled off to his favorite spot under the big oaks and walked around to the back of the house. I brought him in and he slept without any issues through the night, but by the next morning, we knew something was terribly wrong.
We spent an early Saturday morning at our vets. It appeared that Luke had injured his back. He was placed on kennel rest and given steroids and pain medication. I was told to carry him outside to potty, as he was not allowed to walk. Poor Luke looked so sad and confused. We followed all the rules and he had a very quiet day. We took him out right before bedtime and put him in his kennel beside our bed. By 2:30 am, he was panting heavily and was paralyzed from his mid back down. We rushed immediately to the animal emergency hospital near us. We were told that the prognosis was extremely poor because the paralysis set in so quickly. In the wee hours of the morning, we lost our sweet Luke Bailey. He was only 4 years old.
It's odd, but I expect to see Luke in his favorite places...in the kitchen while I'm making coffee in the morning...in his basket by the fireplace...sitting under my feet as I write this blog post...hiding from me under the dining room table when he knows that I am about to leave the house...waiting not so patiently by the dinner table until we were finished eating...at night in his bed in our bedroom.
Cynthia Rylant wrote the beautiful book, Dog Heaven. As a counselor, I often read Dog Heaven to children after the loss of a beloved pet. There is one particular drawing I love. It depicts dogs frolicking around in heaven while a man hides behind a tree, watching with a smile on his face. The children always exclaimed that the man was God and He was looking out for their pet. It is my favorite page of the book. I imagine when Luke arrived in heaven, he trotted right over and informed God what his duties were going to be in heaven. Our sweet boy was bossy!
We are thankful for the short time we had with Luke. He brought so much joy to our lives and is greatly missed. I once read that some things just fill your heart without trying. Our little Luke Bailey did just that...
Luke always thought he was as big as our labs. Whenever it would thunder, Luke would bark furiously until I had our labs safe and sound in our garage. He would round them up and usher them to the door connecting to our garage. He looked quite smitten with himself after finishing this very important job. I think the under bite helped with the smitten look!
He also loved to play Canasta and would often distract the other players by his sheer cuteness. The truth is he just liked to be held and was most content in someone's arms.
We spent an early Saturday morning at our vets. It appeared that Luke had injured his back. He was placed on kennel rest and given steroids and pain medication. I was told to carry him outside to potty, as he was not allowed to walk. Poor Luke looked so sad and confused. We followed all the rules and he had a very quiet day. We took him out right before bedtime and put him in his kennel beside our bed. By 2:30 am, he was panting heavily and was paralyzed from his mid back down. We rushed immediately to the animal emergency hospital near us. We were told that the prognosis was extremely poor because the paralysis set in so quickly. In the wee hours of the morning, we lost our sweet Luke Bailey. He was only 4 years old.
We brought him home and buried him near the garden, not far from his favorite trees. He'd like our choice of resting places. He was all about those trees! Our big labs came and sniffed the white box that held our little Luke. They sat nearby and watched as my husband dug and dug in the pouring rain. It was if they knew...and I'm sure they did.
It's odd, but I expect to see Luke in his favorite places...in the kitchen while I'm making coffee in the morning...in his basket by the fireplace...sitting under my feet as I write this blog post...hiding from me under the dining room table when he knows that I am about to leave the house...waiting not so patiently by the dinner table until we were finished eating...at night in his bed in our bedroom.
Cynthia Rylant wrote the beautiful book, Dog Heaven. As a counselor, I often read Dog Heaven to children after the loss of a beloved pet. There is one particular drawing I love. It depicts dogs frolicking around in heaven while a man hides behind a tree, watching with a smile on his face. The children always exclaimed that the man was God and He was looking out for their pet. It is my favorite page of the book. I imagine when Luke arrived in heaven, he trotted right over and informed God what his duties were going to be in heaven. Our sweet boy was bossy!
Dedicated to the wonderful memory of Luke Bailey
I am sorry for the loss of your sweet little Luke.
ReplyDeleteFlowerLady
Thank you Lorraine. He was such an adorable little fellow.
DeleteLosing a dog is so hard. I just lost one of my girls in April. It took the life out of me, because she had been sick, but I just knew she had some time in her, but one morning things went downhill fast.
ReplyDeletePets do bring so much joy to the family.
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of one of your girls. Pets are such wonderful companions and special members of the family. They don't ask for much and give so much in return.
DeleteBlessings from Lynda at Still Woods Farmhouse
I am so very sorry about the loss of sweet fur baby, Luke. When we lose our precious pets, we lose a part of our family and it does leave a hole that takes a while to heal. We lost our Hunter, a Jack Russell mix almost 3 years ago. He was older, almost 13 but he had not really been sick other than just getting slower and laid around more. He had some strange seizure and within a few hours, he took his last breath as I held him on my chest...no time to even get him to a vet. I like to believe that we will see our fur babies in heaven and that is a precious book!
ReplyDeleteOh Debby,
DeleteI am so sorry to hear about Hunter. I know he must have been comforted knowing you were holding him as he passed. I do believe that our fur babies will great us when we get to heaven!
Blessings from Lynda at Still Woods Farmhouse
Oh, I am so very sorry..SO sorry. I have been a dog rescuer for over 40 years now, saving one death row rescue dog at a time, training them, and finding them a home. I have always had my own pack of furkids while helping to save other deserving dogs. When one leaves to go live in heaven it is heartbreaking. I know your pain all to well. I am so very sorry. I hope the tears you have shed for your boy create a rainbow over your heart. I hope your heart will one day sing again and that you will embrace a new furry family member - not to take your boy's place but to continue to share the love with a pup in need of it. Blessings.
ReplyDelete