Another Long Goodbye…Or??

After losing Lucy to bone cancer in July last year, I didn’t want another dog. Ever. The renegade, affectionately nicknamed “rat terrorist” was an integral part of our lives. Lucy fiercely and gleefully accompanied us everywhere. She saw the Grand Canyon, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Yellowstone and the Tetons. She got to see the ancient Medicine Wheel in the Bighorn Mountains and has traveled all over the Black Hills. She even stayed in a Yurt with us.

Lucy visited more coffee shops and dog friendly restaurants than most dogs will ever see. She was a pro at hotel stays, choosing her spot on the bed as soon as we arrived. She never barked or had an accident. Whenever we traveled, she stationed herself with front paws on the console between us in the Mustang. After the first fifty miles or so she’d curl up in the corner of the backseat and sleep until we stopped.

Lost in all of the memories of Lucy, grief hitting me anew every time I entered our oh so empty house, missing her with an ache that surprised me in its intensity, the thought of getting another dog left me cold. I just couldn’t fathom building that special friendship, loving the companionship and then going through the agony of losing it all again at some awful future time. But hubby Ernie kept sending me links and pictures of rat terriers needing rescue, plus a variety of puppies.

I kept saying “no thanks” until one fateful day… He sent me a picture of a grey and white rat terrier female at the Jefferson County Humane Society in Valley Falls, Kansas. Inexplicably drawn to her sad face, I found myself calling them immediately, almost in a panic that we would lose the opportunity to rescue this particular dog. No one had stepped forward to claim her, so on Labor Day weekend we made the 350 mile one-way trip to pick up the sweetheart I named Bella.

She rode home on my lap, staring out the window. She was so thin I could feel her sharp backbone and ribs. Bella has proven to be a sensitive soul with a sweet, gentle nature and the ability to run REALLY, REALLY FAST. We think she’s a mix of Rat Terrier and Italian Greyhound, based on pictures we’ve seen. Someday it would be fun to do a DNA test, although we don’t really care. Bella has since gained several pounds and is a beautiful dog.

On November 7^th, 2023, we added one more member to our canine family – little Lyle, an eight week old Rat Terrier puppy. Lyle is a bundle of energy with personality plus and intelligence that shines from his amazing blue eyes. He’s now four months old and house trained! Just in time for the foot of snow we were recently blessed with.

Lyle and Bella are already deeply embedded in our hearts and give us endless entertainment with their shenanigans. Both pups go a long way toward alleviating the lingering sadness and grief we harbor over losing our feisty Lucy.

My most heartfelt prayer is that Bella and Lyle will have long and happy lives with us. We have no idea how old Bella is but suspect she’s at least eight or nine years old. The cynical, still grieving part of me wants to think that what we’re starting with both Bella and Lyle is indeed another long goodbye. However, the part of me that views life positively realizes that I must think of it as once again, the beginning of a long friendship with special dogs to love and enjoy. A friendship that we’ll make the most of, every single day.