This is not a post about nutrition or a post about healthy foods and treats, this post is a tribute to the Black Dog in Black Dog Bakehouse.
I met Guinness on June 18, 2009. I was looking to adopt another dog after more than four years without one and that’s when I found Tally (that was his name when we met and he asked me to change it. He wanted to pick his new name and Guinness is what he wanted, promise #1). His first two adoption prospects fell through and then I got to meet him. I learned that he had a sister that was adopted before him and he was a little more difficult to place because of his personality and his fearful tendencies towards other dogs.
He was skinny, awkward and shy and I loved him instantly. I brought that sweet 4 year old lab home on June 20th. He was distant at first but slowly he warmed up. Little did I know at the time that he would be my true soul mate or maybe I did know. We got to know each other and I found out that he was skittish around people as well. Slowly he eased into his dog role and soon we were at off leash open spaces. He never did quite get over his shyness around other people, but neither have I. While he showed interest in other dogs, he was more interested in me. I knew I could never have a second dog because he needed to be an only dog, he was shy and an introvert like me, so no other dogs, promise #2.
Over our many years together we traveled to beautiful places, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, all over Colorado and of course our last trip in July 2016 to Telluride, CO, my 50th birthday. He loved car rides. It didn’t matter where we went, just so long as we were together. I promised I would never abandon him and that he would come with me no matter where I was. We moved three times together and I never left his side, promise #3.
Guinness always ate the best foods I could find and of course I cooked for him too. He never went without and was well taken care of with healthy nutrition and top of the line veterinarian care which included Eastern and Western medicine. He had acupuncture, massages, healthy supplements and regular health care visits. I told him that I would always take care of him, promise #4.
In January of this year, I noticed that his health was declining and that he seemed to be having neurological issues. His body was having such a hard time and nothing I did seemed to help. It was then I knew his time here on this earth was coming to an end. On March 17, 2018, I honored that sweet boy, that sweet boy who taught me that being an introvert was ok, that being different was ok, that just being me was ok. That sweet boy who looked at me with such unconditional love that I could feel it in his heart, that sweet boy who thought being in the same room with me was pretty damn great, that sweet boy who I loved so. The vet came to my home because we both knew he would be more comfortable there. It was quiet and peaceful as he lay next to me and then his last breath set him free to that magical place where he could run pain free, that magical place where his big brother Einstein greeted him and all the dogs I have ever cared for welcomed him. Run free my sweet boy, run free with your brother, I will see you both when I get there. This was my last promise.
I made a lot of promises to Guinness and I’ve kept every one, even that promise to let him go when life was too painful. I have a few more promises to keep and I will spend my life honoring them.
This is why I love animals so much. Their unconditional love and devotion never wavers and never ceases to amaze me. It was no accident that we ended up together. We both had a lot to learn from each other and Guinness was my greatest teacher.
Guinness had a tag on his collar that said Rescued. I often wonder if I should have been the one wearing it because I think on June 20, 2009, I got rescued too.
With much love Guinness, to the moon and back. Love to you always.