Goodbye, Babe.

A lot has happened since last I wrote. A big loss was my wonderful black dog Babe. I had to put her to sleep December 8th, the day after the Christmas Reunion. I should have known that was a reality when one of the Clinic Helpers put a red ribbon on the tree to honor Babe.

Babe was my family, my shadow, my friend, going everywhere with me. She went with me to the Adirondacks, followed me on trail rides, and was everywhere I was in camp. At times, I took her to school. She was a therapy dog for me there. Some kids would talk with her that wouldn’t talk with me.

Babe was quiet. She would stand silently by you to let you know she was there, hoping you would acknowledge her presence. I could give her a hug and she would ‘talk’ to me. I will never forget that. Often we would snuggle on the kitchen floor together to watch the evening news and chat about the day. I often said there was a person in Babe trying very hard to communicate.

I know Babe was trying to tell me for quite a while that she wasn’t well. I knew in the summer she was having trouble and spent a hunk of money getting opinions from vets about what was going on. All her tests came back okay, even the day I made the decision to put her down. The vet said there was nothing wrong. But there was. Babe and I both knew.

When Babe stopped eating the first weekend in December, she started to tremble and so she and I had a few long talks. We sensed what was coming; x-rays finally confirmed that cancer had inhabited all of her. Babe looked at me as if to say, “It’s okay, Mom. I’ve got to go now.”

So I sat with her, held her head and her front paws. She looked at me, lay her head on my hand, and gave her final sigh. I knew right then that we had made the right decision. Babe is where there is only love and good memories. I need not worry.

In retrospect, loving a pet means forgetting I will out live them and be left with the pain of their parting. Means making the most of every minute with them.

I still find myself including Babe when I talk to Pudge. It’s a habit, I guess.

You know, when Babe and I talked at the end, Babe let me know that it is okay to get a new puppy. She knows Pudge likes to play and she doesn’t want her to be lonely, and so after the first of the year, Tom and I will start looking for a little tyke to carry on the traditions at camp and challenge Pudge to act like a smart mom!