The Death of a Dog

Heaven goes by favor; if it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in - Mark Twain 

 Dogs are a funny thing. They're not really pets, as much as we'd like to think of them as such... They're closer to being a member of the family. They become part of the daily routines a family has. Dogs have their own personalities, their own likes and dislikes, their own routines, and even their own friendships. Thanks to thousands of years of domestication, dogs can communicate with humans through an exchanging of looks, cats? Not so much.  A dog can be whatever you want it to be, Whatever love you give a dog, you'll receive tenfold. There are an infinite amount wonderful things about dogs to write, but we're not here for that.

Spencer, Parker, and Yuri

There is something profoundly sad about the death of a family dog. With the death other pets like fish, hamsters, rabbits, birds, or even chinchillas, there's a sadness but it's generally superficial. I can remember how I felt when those pets died, I even remember milking the death of my rabbit for an extra day out of school.

Yuri and Nevin

When you lose a dog, it isn't comparable to losing a brother, sister, son, daughter, mother, or father. Thankfully. Losing a dog is hard in its own rights, when it's their time, they leave a hole that nothing can fill. The house feels empty. Maybe because it's quieter, cleaner, less hectic, it's safe to leave food on the counter, and no one is going to try and eat the couch. Yet, the lack of these things, is a shroud over the family.

Yuri, 5 months old

After ten to fifteen years of having a dog, and it's time for them to go. Everyone in the family, even the dog, is ready for it. When a dog dies of old age, everyone has a chance to mentally prepare and say their goodbyes.  It's sad, and there's still a hole...But it's a hole everyone was expecting, maybe for weeks, months, or even years.

Superdog

This morning, I woke up to a Facebook message from my sister, "Is there any way for you to call me? Or any one of us? Please call us, it doesn't matter what time of night." When I read it, my heart dropped, I'm in Russia, and my sister needs me to call her. "Yuri died, he was hit by a train." I could hear my sister crying 5,000 miles away. My whole family was crying, our dog, our three year old Batdog was dead. 

Batdog

Yesterday when I woke up, he was alive. It's a bittersweet thing to be half a world away from your family at a time like this. I can't be with them, comfort them, have them comfort me. There's no shroud here in Ekaterinburg, I don't have to live with the emptiness that Yuri left behind.

Yuri and Parker

Yuri is not replaceable, he was the best and worst dog I'll have ever owned. I still remember the first time Spencer and I saw him. We drove an hour to Casco to look at these "accidental" puppies. Yuri was the only one left. He was everything I could have ever hoped a dog could be, smart, energetic, fun, gentle, and he had more personality than any other dog I've met or owned. He had his downsides, he was stubborn, dirty, and he ate almost as much as Nevin, although I've never seen Nevin hit a $3,000 leather sofa and chair set. 

Yuri experiences leaves for the first time...

Between living in Machias, and moving to Russia, I didn't get to spend nearly as much time with "my" dog as he deserved. But thankfully for me, my brother did. Spencer and Yuri had a bond that was indescribable. When they would see each other, you could see both their faces light up. It was only a matter of time before Spencer moved out of the house and took Yuri with him. He may of started out as "my" dog, but there's no question about who he loved the most. 

A boy and his dog

The bond between Yuri and Spencer is what makes this story so tragic. Yesterday when Spencer got home, Yuri was nowhere to be found, so he went looking for him. Spencer found his best friend on the railroad tracks, I wouldn't wish that on anyone. To have to do what Spencer did, if it was anyone else it would have been a little better. For Spencer to see Yuri like that, there are no words. His best friend. I don't understand what my brother could have possibly done in his short life to have to experience what he did.

I love you

 I wish I was home, with my family. To help them, to help Spencer, and for them to help me. So, today I say goodbye to Yuri the Superdog, the best dog I have and will ever own. Yuri left a hole that will never be filled.

Who needs sticks when you have logs?

Goodbye Yuri we will all  miss you and we will all always love you....Thank you for being a part of our lives, and making our family that much better because of it, goodbye my friend....

Goodbye buddy, I'll miss you