Friday, June 15, 2007

Brown Dog


In 1993, right before Christmas, I told Scott I wanted a dog. He agreed (as usual) to buy me one. We called the Humane society and asked if they had any puppies, and they said No, but to come look at the adult dogs. About 2 hours later, I arrived there, to be told that someone had just dropped off one runt puppy.

I made a beeline for that cage, pulled out the little brown fluff ball, turned to Scott, and announced that "This is Emily."

She was a good dog. We had no idea how big or small she'd be, or what she was. Becky predicted that she would probably be "just right". I asked Doc Vasey in Stafford what he thought she was when she went to him for shots and spaying. He looked at her thoughtfully for a while, and pronounced her "A Brown Dog." And she was a perfect 50 pound brown dog.

Em and I had a rough time with housebreaking. I hope to do better with my own child. But we eventually figured it all out. She loved everyone who was in my life, she adored going to Stafford for Christmas, had her own stocking, and knew as soon as we reached town after the 4 hour drive where she was and ran for the house to see her grandparents.

She was quite sassy. She had a hound dog bay and conversational tone, she talked a lot. She always had something to say. She tolerated my other pets, but really just wanted me all to herself. She had a mommy complex.

Once when she was under a year old she ate an entire bag of Oreo cookies and almost died from it. It was a stupid move, but who could blame her? Em really really loved to eat. She grew into a sway backed, scruffy hound with the biggest dog ass anyone has ever seen. It's like a basketball, people would often say. Emily had back. I used to sing a special song to her, in a low and off key voice, called "Soft and Brown". It was our song.

For the past week we've known that she had malignant lymphoma, and has gone increasingly blind. She pads around in circles, unsure where she's going or what she wants. She's very sad. She's slept a lot, and had lots of chicken, cheese, and Sonic Ice Cream.

Beck's on her way to pick us up now, we're going to the vet one last time. I plan on holding her until it's over.

She's been a good brown dog.


6 comments:

Dahlia said...

My dog Killer's last meal was t-bone steak and vanilla ice cream.

Emily will be happy that you let her go. It's hard, but it's the right thing to do.

Take care

Megan Stuke said...

I'm crying AGAIN! Goodbye Emily! I loved you!!! And your big brown dog ass!

Anonymous said...

And her grandparents loved her and her sassy ways. After all - she was our very first granddog. I still say she is up there tormenting Garth again.

Redhead Fae said...

I"m so sorry, Kalli.

Meg Moran said...

OH Kalli, I don't know what to say, I am so sorry for your loss and so proud of you for having the courage to see your girl through her transition. I know she will be in your heart forever and ever. {{Hug}}

Anonymous said...

Good post.

"I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time . Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult." --E.B. White