|
SubscriptionsSites I Read
|
|
|
|
| I was on the way home today and this gangster-looking Asian guy driving an older white Honda Accord just decided to cut me off and I almost slammed into him. I was pretty upset by it so I honked at him. He stopped his car, got out of his car and started howling at me. I was so shocked by his uncivilized behavior I didn't even know what to think. I just kind of stared at him and after a few seconds, he got back into his car and drove off. Later after we turned, he got cut off by someone else and he was honking like crazy. Karma.
However, this reminded me of a news I heard a while back where some guy honked at another and the other guy got out of his car and shot him with a gun. I guess I was lucky this Asian gangster wasn't packing heat.
| | |
| My mom, Mark, Anh, Tina and I went by this little creek near our old house yesterday afternoon. It was the creek where Teddy ran to and played when he escaped from the backyard in the past.
We released his ashes along the creek as part of the memorial service. You have been a good boy, Teddy. Now run along and play.
| | |
| After work today, I rushed over to the Veterinarian clinic where my mom had taken Teddy. When I arrived, Mark, Anh, my mom and Bob are already there. Teddy was laying on the floor and couldn't get up. I felt tears coming the moment I stepped in knowing what was waiting for Teddy. Ironically, the clinic was backed up today as there was an emergency surgery. This was both a blessing and a curse as it allowed us to spend just a little more time with Teddy but at the same time it made the good bye longer.
As my family and I waited for our turn, we each took turn comforting each other and Teddy. There were four cats in the clinic and they were all over the place, fearless toward dogs. Teddy have always liked chasing small animals and even though he can't move, he still tried to slowly crawl toward a cat sleeping in a basket.
Finally it was our turn and I felt a chill down my back. Mark carried Teddy to the table and the Vet took a look. He told us his body was filled with fluid that could be caused by any number of serious illness such as heartworm or some sort of liver disease. Usually at this stage it's already difficult to cure as they'd have to first drain the fluid, which would simply just come back unless the cause was found and eliminated. However, due to Teddy's old age, it's unlikely he would endure and survive such a treatment. We know what the Vet was hinting at but we were already prepared to let Teddy go, at least as prepared as we possibly can be. The Vet nodded and gave us a little time with Teddy while he went to prepare the procedure. Mark, my mom and I each took turn to say our good byes and gave Teddy one last hug.
Soon the Vet came back with a needle filled with some sort of pink liquid and kindly asked if any of us have seen such a procedure. I immediately freaked and ran out of the room and went outside. I sat down on a bench and just couldn't stop crying. I don't believe I remember the last time I was this hysterical. Good thing Tina was there to comfort me otherwise I probably would've had a breakdown. A few long minutes later my mom, Mark and Anh came out and told me Teddy is asleep, which just brought more tears to all of us. The Vet told us that it would be a few days before they could have Teddy cremated. Then we are going to have a memorial service for him and release his ashes by the creek near our old house where he would used to run to and play whenever he escaped.
| | |
| My family and I celebrated my brother Mark's 24th birthday last night. During dinner though, I found out that Teddy, our oldest family dog, has been real sick and will have to be put to sleep.
Fifteen years ago, I was in middle school and my family and I had just adjusted to living in the U.S. after having been here for a little more than two years. One day, my best friend at the time, Chad, told me his dog gave birth to a litter of puppies. Back in Taiwan, our family had two small dogs, but both passed away in tragic accidents. When I talked to my family about adopting one of the puppies, we all felt we were ready to accept another pet in our lives. Little did we know though that Teddy became much more than a pet, he was a member of our family.
On the way back from Chad's house, the puppy was sitting on the seat but leaning against me the whole time as if to feel more secure. He was so fuzzy and chubby so we named him Teddy since he looked like a teddy bear. None of us really knew how to take care of a puppy then as the two dogs we had before in Taiwan didn't exactly survive too long before their accidents, the first choked on a chicken bone and the second got ran over. With my limited experience though, I tried my best making Teddy as comfortable as possible.
The first night was both fun and frustrating. I didn't want Teddy to stay up all night so I tried to keep him awake even though he was extremely tired. I made him sleep on my lap while I watched TV and I called his name every time I saw his eyelids closed. It was finally bed time and I let Teddy sleep in my room only to find a pile of poop under my bed the next morning. After months and months of trying to potty train Teddy, we finally gave up and had no choice but to let Teddy be an outside dog. He didn't complain either considering how big our yard was.
Teddy was the king of the jungle in the backyard. Because we lived in a newly developed suburban neighborhood, there were still some wild animals around. Teddy developed a habit of hunting down wild rabbits. He also enjoyed sunbathing in the backyard as sometimes we would catch him on his back with a sheepish grin and eyes closed for hours. However, we still felt as if we didn't give him enough attention as I was in high school at the time, Mark was in middle school, my dad was trying to get his Ph.D. and my mom just started a new business. Needless to say, our whole family were so busy we barely had time for ourselves. At first we tried buying Teddy toys but only to realize he didn't play them often by himself, only when we go out to the backyard to play with him.
One day, we discovered that Teddy has dug a small hole under the fence and escaped! We were so worried about him and as horrible thoughts filled our minds, we hear two light barks in the backyard. There Teddy was hopping around and he was not alone. Teddy had brought home a new friend, a Dalmation that was about twice his size. They were playing so well in the backyard and I don't believe I've ever seen Teddy so happy. However, this happiness didn't last as this friendship wasn't meant to be. The owner of the Dalmation came over a few hours later and claimed the dog. I believe they ran into each other once or twice after that while we were on our walks but they never got to play together again.
After that incident, Teddy became a skilled escape artist. Over the years he must have escaped 10-20 times, but he always came home, either by himself, with a neighbor or with a police officer. No matter how much we fix the fence, he always found a way to escape. There was this one time when he didn't come home for nearly a week and it got us real worried. One night, we were in the neighborhood and heard a dog whining inside a garage. The garage door wasn't completely closed and we saw a dog's nose sticking out sniffing like crazy while whining. I recognize Teddy's nose anywhere and knew it was him. We knocked on the front door but no one answered. It didn't seem like anyone was home or have even moved in for that matter. We were going to call the police the next morning but only to discover Teddy somehow freed himself and came back to the backyard.
Eventually we felt that Teddy was too lonely being by himself in the backyard all the time so we decided to bring home a little brother for him. My mom went to the SPCA and adopted a Chow Chow mix puppy and we named him Freddy, although he looked much more like a teddy bear than Teddy. Teddy and Freddy got along pretty well and eventually became great friends.
Since my parents got divorced and moved out of the house, Teddy and Freddy lived with my mom and for a brief time, my brother. I moved out on my own a few years before my parents got divorced and even got my own dog, which is another story. Over the past few years, I only saw Teddy once or twice per month but he was always happy to see me and never forgot the two tricks we taught him, sit and shake.
It never occurred to us that Teddy was growing older by the day as his face always looked young and full of energy. People always mistaken him as a puppy when my mom walked him. However, time catches up with everyone. I didn't see him for a few weeks as we were all busy but when I saw him last night, I couldn't help but feel sad. Teddy could no longer walk for too long and it seems almost painful for him to stand up at all. When I opened the front gate to my mom's house, Freddy came to greet me but all Teddy could do was wag his tail while on the floor. When I petted him, I could feel his bones and his stomach was really hard. I'm not sure what's wrong with him but I knew that he couldn't possibly he too comfortable in his current state.
I will be going to the vet with my mom and brother today to see him off.
Rest Teddy, you have been a great friend. I have kept you long enough now, it's bed time, sleep well.
Teddy - 1992 - 2007
 | | |
|
