Foley's Tails From Rainbow Bridge: What a Dog Wants

Let me tell you, as your faithful dog correspondent on both sides of the River of Life for 16 years, do not try to figure out what a dog wants or needs. It is you.

Minnie, a pittie, was held by her dad, Michael Naylor, as a newborn. We indeed imprint on the first person we see, but if we don’t get total love from the person, the imprint washes away. But she did not have to worry that this would happen with Michael. That moment they looked at one another he surrendered his heart to her.

Michael, a father of three, took Minnie wherever he went, and if the place didn’t take dogs, Michael didn’t go.

His wife and children loved Minnie too, but she was her dad’s dog. 

It would be nice if that was how the story ended, but stories of constant happiness don’t spread but those of constant sorrow do.

The sorrow began in 2021 when Naylor was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis and kidney issues, and then pancreatic cancer.

As Naylor grew worse he realized he could not take care of Minnie.

But, to Minnie, she didn’t need walks, food, or water, just him. Dogs can live off of love.

Naylor’s love for Minnie was just as strong, and he decided that her devotion to him was unhealthy. The big dog had to be dragged from Naylor’s room, and the first chance she got she ran back to him,

Naylor had prepared for the worst.  He did not want Minnie to suffer watching him die. So he made the worst possible decision for both him and Minnie.

He surrendered her, out of love, to a nearby shelter. Minnie was so distraught it was impossible to adopt out for a year.

Meanwhile, Naylor’s life without Minnie was unbearable. He handled her tags like they were a rosary, and would visit the shelter during outside hours so he could get a glimpse of her.

In 2023 Minnie was adopted by another family and Naylor gave up taking medication, eating, or going to the doctor. Without being able to see Minnie he gave up on life.

Minnie only had love for one person in her heart and while she liked the nice people who adopted her she would not bond with them, and within a year was surrendered back to the shelter. Minnie was placed on the adoption list.

Naylor had gone off the shelter’s website every day, like a captain’s wife on the widow’s walk yearning for a sign for his long overdue ship. 

I saw Minnie’s picture and weakly announced he was getting her back.

Shortly after that Naylor found he had been misdiagnosed, and with proper treatment would be fine. With getting Minnie back his endgame, Naylor began to work hard to get healthy for the first time in two years.

When Naylor entered remission he contracted the shelter, two years after letting Minnie go. She was still there. Naylor found her playing in the yard and called her name. Minnie’s ears went up, her tail began to twirl, and she jumped into his arms.

Tears were shed that day by all involved, enough tears to cause a monsoon at the Bridge when they fell.

After two years Minnie was home and happy. 

And Naylor, with his heart and soul intact again, was soon returned to full health.

So, dear humans, remember, no matter how bad things get, your dogs want you.

Only you.

You are all they need in a world without end.

Amen.

Poetry Thursday

 

Once again, Angel Sammys and Teddys Pawetaton have provided us with a photo for Poetry Thursday

One Christmas my Dad said he knew where Santa lived

We begged to takes us, we did not want to be deprived

My skeptical older brother said we were being jived

So my Dad put us in the car, and told us to be quiet until we arrived

Being kids, and excited to meet Santa, that was a promise we needed to break.

Thinking we were going to see Santa our emotions did overtake

Suddenly the car veered right and an old mountain road Daddy did take

And he drove high into the sky without hitting his brake.

The road was narrow, steep. And filled with potholes

We pleaded with my dad to turn over the controls

And he told us to stop being Christmas trolls

The top of the mountain was his goal

My little brother told my Dad that Santa lived at the North Pole not on top of a hill

But my Dad insists we chill

The North Pole was a lie created by Santa but he meant no ill will

He needed privacy and didn’t want his shop overrun like a jolly Bastille.

And so we continued going higher

And none of wanted to call him a liar

But we knew he didn’t mean to steer us into a quagmire.

But we had all paid the price for his theories created by him that did conspire.

It was a treacherous route

And we almost fell of the mountain during our commute

So we were stunned to see at the top of the hill a cottage and workshop covered by festive lights throughout

Then we saw someone walks towards us wearing a Santa suit

When we saw Santa we knew there was a glitch

And when my Dad said “we are here Santa,” the elf’s face did twitch.

The he said to my father “you are one dumb son  of a bitch

You just climbed Mount Crumpet and I am the Grinch. 

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Wordless Wednesday

 

Beat This Caption

 

I am telling you for the last time, the reasons are because of the price of Meow Mix, because you let dogs cross the border into our yard and dig in the garden, taking away my job, and because I am tired of you looking at me and saying: 'Did I feed you?" ten times a day (and the answer is always no). That. and his knowledge of pussy grabbing, is why I am staying here with Trump" 

Monday Question

 

Are you getting anything for Christmas?

I might get a bone, and Mommy usually gets something related to me, but I am not a big gift dog.

Foley’s Tails From Rainbow Bridge - The. Mortal Side Loses an Dear Friend

Despite being at the Bridge, and passing 11 years ago, I am still shocked by death.

I love all my friends online. They still make me smile every day, even at the Bridge, and after my passing, and Pocket’s then River’s’ they have been a great support for my family.

I thought all of that would end when I was tossed off the group Doggyspace after the great purge of 2008, but now I know I owe a debt of gratitude to the weasels who made that decision because it led me to blog and friends I never would have met.

One of my closest friends was Bouncing Bertie, a dog who lived an exciting life. Bertie and his mom Gail lived in Scotland, by the water, and while I considered myself an active dog I had nothing on Bertrie and Gail.

They took long hikes by the water, through the fields, and the forest. Gail would bike too. Mommy wondered where this woman found the energy. Of all the people in our bogging family, she was the most active. A true force of nature who would be around forever.

Bertie joined the Bridge, and quickly found his replacement, Nobby, who had new puppy energy and was able to keep up with Gail.

Until December of 2024 when Gail slowed down, needing more rest. I thought it was one of those illnesses that people get, that sidelines them for a bit. But when I saw Bertie preparing a new room at his cottage on a cliff.  

It was inconceivable to me that the strongest and most active dog mom I knew could be coming to the Bridge, but the first thing you learn about the end of life is that it never makes sense and is rarely fair.

Gail always put her dogs first so it was no surprise that before she passed she made arrangements for Nobby to have an equally caring family and to still be able to go on the walks he loved.

When Gail crossed the Bridge she did so with her old vigor, and she was met by all the dogs she had loved and lost, led by Bouncing Bertie.

And when I go to the river’s edge I see them happily walking together exploring her new world just as she had on the mortal side.

When Gail passed it rocked Blogville, leaving a hole, but it will be filled by another, and the world will keep spinning.

If a little less joyfully

The Ruby Rose Report: All Ruby Wants For Christmas

 

I wsd thrilled when River came down as a spirit to visit me. She was the one who selected me for the prime position of family dog and it is by far my greatest achievement.

“Have you sent a letter to Santa?” River asked me.

“Why is he lonely?” I asked.

“No, you send Santa a list of what you want for Christmas, and on Christmas Eve he will bring it to you.”

“Like the Amazon man?” I asked.

“No, you don’t have to pay for what Santa sends you.”

“You mean like when Mommy returns a package from Amazon with a few parts missing she has kept because she can repurpose them for something she needs.”

“Oh, like stealing,” I said.

“No,” River said growing exasperated. “Amazon is so big they don’t notice the missing parts, so the only way she could get in trouble is if you do something stupid like putting this conversation verbatim in your blog.”

I told River she didn ‘t need to worry about that. The we returned to the conversation of Santa, who brings gifts to the good little souls on Christmas Eve, “To help him get the right gift for you,, Santa wants you to give him a list of what you want.”

I thought about it. “I don’t need anything,” I said

“There must be something. How about toys?”

“I have more toys than I know what to do with.”

“The bones.”

“Oh no, I have lots of them too. I just got a Himalayan Yak bone. Who knew a serpa’s frozen vomit could make such a great bone.”

“Then treats.”

“I have so many of those I will be eating them through spring. Plus I am trying to keep the weight down.”

“Ruby!” a frustrated River barked. “You have to ask for something. If no one wanted anything for Christmas what kind of holiday would that be?”

I didn’t say it but maybe a time for family,  for worship, for food, and for helping others, but I didn’t want to be labeled a socialist. “How about something for  Mom and Dad. Mommy needs new knees.”

“Santa doesn’t traffic in body parts,” River answered.,

“And Springsteen tickets for Dad.”

“You have better luck with the knees.”

“Then peace of Earth and good will towards men.”:

“Oh Ruby, you don’t want to be one of those people who end up giving everyone books of Life Savers.”

We were at an impasse. River said I had until Christmas Eve to think of something or I risked bringing down the entire system.

Personally, I can’t wait for Christmas to be over.

It is way too stressful.