"Old dogs, like old shoes, are comfortable. They might be a bit out of shape
and a little worn around the edges, but they fit well."
-- Bonnie Wilcox 'Old Dogs, Old Friends'
We have three dogs. Two younger mutts and a geriatric border collie - Natasha. ‘Tosh is skinny and feeble. She eats and sleeps, eats and sleeps and has accidents in our laundry room. Monday night I was cleaning yet another mess and thought to myself I’d be nice to have my laundry room back. You see, Natasha is not long for this world. She’s old and deaf and does not respond if in a deep sleep. We lean in close and stare at her chest waiting for the rise and fall. We’ve wondered how she will fare through the winter.
And then Tuesday night she disappeared. This a dog who never leaves the back patio let alone the yard. She’s arthritic and weak. I can’t imagine she’d go far. We searched the yard. Of course it was dark and none of our flashlights worked. So I marched around the yard with my laptop as a light source. Fortunately a kind neighbor loaned me a flashlight but the search was fruitless.
Our house is flanked by an empty lot. Yesterday I searched the lot looking for her body. No luck. We went to the humane society - no ‘Tosh. I called work (The Animal Emergency Center) - not there. I put an add on Craigslist and filed a missing dog report. Today we put up flyers.
I am concerned. But my concern is different than if I were looking for a younger dog. I’m more worried about her being alive than dead. I don’t want her cold, hungry and wet. I don’t want her scared. I want her to be safe whether that is in life or death.
Today I have my laundry room back. But the house is lonely. So we will continue to search for our sweet old dog whom we’ve known and loved since she was a puppy. And we will continue to hope she is safe, one way or the other.
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Happy Love Thursday!
I hope each and every one of you knows the love of a good dog.
