We adopted Brutus when he was only one week old, going to his home once a week and taking snapshots of him until he was old enough to leave his birth mother and come to live with us. He was quick to adapt to his new home and quickly found a place in our hearts. We had never had a bulldog before, and it wasn’t long before we realized that they are a unique breed. Brutus had all the traits. He snored like a buzzsaw, belched, slobbered and gassed us out, to a point that we nicknamed him ‘Bruter the Tooter’. I’d smile when we’d have company and he’d be snoring so loud, they would ask, “Is he alright?” and I’d tell them yes, he was just noisy. We didn’t even hear it, we were so used to it. It’s funny how we hear the silence now.
The deafening silence of no one grunting or hacking when they are eating, so loud that I’d have to say, “Brutus, can you keep the racket down?” Or be humiliated when I was on the phone and he would flatulate so loud the person on the other end would stop talking. What could I say? The dog did it? Sure, blame it on the dog…
Brutus loved to go ‘buh-bye’. Just the sound of me picking up the car keys would jolt him awake from the deepest slumber and send him tearing through the kitchen to head for the garage door. If there was a chance that he could go with us, he was going to be ready. He always got to ride in the front seat next to the window. He’d put his big paw on the window switch and strip the gears, which was very expensive to fix. After the second time, I finally left it broke because I knew
he’d just do it again.
He also loved his treats. I’d always tell him, “Easy…”, but it never failed. His jaw was so massive that you would always have to wash your hands after giving him a bisquit, your hands would be covered with Brutus spit. A trip to the bank would always have him staring at the bank teller, because he knew they would send a treat back in the canister for him. I could hardly open the cannister with his big head in the way.
When we brought our new kitten into the home, Brutus patiently put up with all her kitten tactics. He’d try to ignore her as she pounced on his head or hopped sideways passed him as he tried to sleep. He simply accepted the fact that this was a kitten and
he was her choice as a playmate.
When Brutus became sick, I couldn’t accept the fact that we couldn’t make him better. He vomited continuously. I took him to the vet so many times I lost count. He had him on so many medications that we didn’t know what was helping and what was hurting. Sometimes, a shot of cortisone would give us our Brutus back, and that would give me hope the next time he started getting sick again. But after eight months, I took him to a different doctor. He was better for a while, but then he started getting sick again. He was no longer getting better. I was staying up at nights to hold his head up when he couldn’t breath, propping him with pillows when he couldn’t stand. When my eleven year old daughter came up to me and said, “You need to face it, mom. Brutus is not going to get better. He’s never going to stop vomiting. He’s never going to breath better. He’s not going to get well!” I knew that it was only my own selfishness that was keeping him there. We never did find out what made Brutus so sick. The doctor said he had never seen a case like Brutus in his thirty years of practice. I thought I was strong enough to finally do what had to be done. I was so wrong.
Letting go was agonizing. There are no words to describe the pain of that final moment. We were there with him, holding him, hugging him and telling him how much we loved him. The doctor had sedated him and he was resting comfortably. When he gave him the last shot, I told him, “It’s the last one, Brute. No more pokes.” And Brutus quickly went to a better place with no more pain.
We’ll always love you, Brutus. Thank you for all the joy you brought into our home. You were the sweetest, most undemanding, loyal friend and family member we could ever be blessed with. You gave unconditionally, and we miss you terribly.
With all our LOVE,
| BRUTUS |
| Sandee, Brad, Shannon, Dutch & Sadie |