Duke was a Lab/Great Dane mix who I bought after my boyfriend
purchased his brother Windsor.
I had Duke for 12 years and had to put him
to sleep last June.
This is the first time I’ve written about him since his death.
He was the best dog ever.
I’ve never seen a dog who was born trained the way Duke was.
Never did he leave my side when we took walks along the river
in my hometown. He was also by my side through many of the
heartbreaks I suffered in my life including the death of my mother.
All he ever did was show me complete unconditional love.
Two years ago I noticed a golf ball sized lump on his throat.
After a series of tests the lump did not show as cancer
but it continued to grow. Finally one day Duke could not walk,
and I knew it was time to take him for the last time to the vet.
It was the hardest day of my life.
That morning my vet’s wife talked to me for an hour on the
phone reassuring me I was doing the right thing —
that he was only suffering now.
I laid on the floor with him that afternoon softly stroking him
for the last time. We went to the vet and I again laid on the
ground with him. He was very miserable but still looked at me with
that complete and unconditional love he always showed me
and that is how he was looking at me as he died.
I laid on the floor for a very long time and cried my eyes out.
Everyone left the room including my father
(who was crying and he’s a football coach!) so I could be alone
with my boy for the last time.
Some people never get a dog again.
I cried and grieved so hard over him.
Finally a week later I could not take it any more and
I went to the pound vowing to get another type of dog.
However as I walked along the rows a dog who resembled Duke
very much sat looking at me sadly in his cage.
Without meeting him I adopted him.
It is almost a year since Duke died but not a day goes by
that I don’t think of him. It has been particularly bad recently
and I can only attribute that to the fact that his death
anniversary is drawing near.
No dog will ever live up to what Duke was to me.
He will live in my heart always.
His ashes sit in a small leather trunk with an
engraved plate that says
“A friend may well be the masterpiece of creation.”
— by Ralph Waldo Emerson Now
he will always be with me and I will wait until the day
I will see him again.
Cathy