The one thing that I always wanted when I was a kid was a dog. I remember asking for one for several years for my birthday but my parents just did not believe in having animals in the house. I always loved animals and knew that one day I would have one.
The day that I signed my first teaching contract, I remember heading straight to the SPCA and was “considering” getting a dog. As I looked through the pens where they kept the dogs, I will never forget seeing a beautiful “runt” golden lab. What was interesting was that this dog was abused which led him to being rather aggressive. This would lead to a lot of work with Kobe and he eventually was the friendliest dog ever. People always loved him. As I walked into the pen, we connected immediately. I knew I had found my dog. I was so excited and was attached immediately. Kobe slept in my bed for at least a portion of the night, everyday that I was home.
I remember trying to play fetch with him and he would run so excited to get the ball maybe twice. After the third time he was just “meh”. He got the game and just had no desire. That’s how he was with me. He was very calm and complacent and just liked hanging out.
I am going to miss him not being at the door with my other dog Shaq when I come home. His tail wagging when I walked in was the best part of my day, and walking out of the house in the morning always sunk my heart.
It was fantastic that we got to spend a lot of time together over the summer. Both my dogs got use to “summer George” where I would be home a lot of the time and we would just hang out around the house. Although I love being at school, to me, this was one of the major “perks” of summer.
Today, before I said goodbye, I took Kobe for a drive, rolled the window down, and picked up a McDonald’s Cheeseburger and a Smartie McFlurry. I wanted him to have one last meal of food that he always tried to sneak a taste of while I was eating. He loved it and that is a moment I am trying to focus on.
I knew this would be hard, but I am glad that I got to lie on the floor with my buddy one last time, kiss him, and tell how much I love him. I wrapped him up in a blanket and was glad that he was not struggling anymore.
It is not going to be the same without him in my bed every night. He was a really special dog. I love Kobe more than anything.
I am saying again, what I have said to my dog a million times before.
Bye buddy.
