This is a true story, not about sex but about a stronger love than than you can imagine. I give you fair warning if you read to the end you might just look at life differently.

December 26 2007
The next to the worse day in my life, so far. It all started 10 years ago when a puppy was born. His name is Rugger, and he spent many countless hours learning to be a wheel chair service dog. I never knew him as a puppy or as a full grown dog. Until one day when my wife and I had to make the terrible decision to have her best friend Muggins laid to rest.

Muggins was an English bulldog and smarter than the average bear. He ran into some major medical issues and could not walk any more. When those eyes looked at you they were begging for help. Well it was time to call on “Rainbow Bridge Poem” once again. Muggins was laid to rest and left an empty hole in our hearts. For quite awhile we were undecided whether to take another under our wing.

So one day Carol and I went looking for a new member of our family and after a few days and an extra trip back we went back to the shelter and looked at that skinny spindly legged yellow part lab and part retriever that did nothing but screech when he was left alone in the kennel cage. Those big brown eyes kept saying take me home please! So we did, for two years he would have nothing to do with Carol, the one who needed a companion while I was running service calls and doing what every.

Then one day Carol had a major fever 106 for three or four days and wound up on an ice blanket in the hospital and finally it broke. She started to get a little better but it turned into a diagnosis that would change our lives for ever Multiple Sclerosis. Carol wound up in a care facility for 7 weeks and things had to change at home or she could not come home. Ramps, wheel chair clearance, power lift for the trip to the 2nd floor, the step down family room etc. Then it was time for the trip home, the new ramp worked well. The chair and Mom were home at last, thank God. But that’s when it all changed, Rugger had a switch thrown in his head, he immediately recognized the wheel chair and took up a position next to it and would not leave it!

Carol could only say, “What’s wrong with this dog that would not have anything to do with me”. Well over the next several years we learned that he must have been trained to help the handicapped in a chair. Because no matter what Carol dropped Rugger would pick it up and place it in her lap. He learned our words for socks, shirt, towel, pills, canteen and countless other chores he would do automatically. How many dogs do you know that you could hand a sandwich or cookie in just a paper towel and it would get delivered to Mom without even telling him and never in 5 years did he devour something he was to deliver! Or lie on the floor outside the shower and when the water stopped get a towel to hand her. Or be lying outside on the deck, hear a pill bottle hit the floor two rooms away and be there to pick it up before Mom could reach for the reacher. Well, these are some real indications of what I call true dedication.

But I’d like you to understand one other thing. The year before Carol became ill Rugger came down with a bacterial brain infection that ravaged his body and caused the pancreas to leak fluid into his abdomen. This was digesting him from the inside out! He was a VERY sick pup for three weeks and it was suggested we put him down several times. Each time we went to visit him those big brown eyes kept saying help me! So the effort was continued, the vet told me the last time we went, that he had no other options, other than an antibiotic used for horses. Well, the chips were down and it was either put him down or try the antibiotic, which might kill him anyway. A couple days later he was doing better!

The vet thought it might do him good to bring him home. Little did we know he had walking syndrome now, which meant, he never stopped walking, and he would walk into a corner and not know how to get out of it. Well for several days we dealt with a dog that did not want to stop walking 24 /7. Finally after several days and much coaching his brain started to settle down, eat, sleep (finally) and do some normal dog things, like not going in the house. That’s when the problem switched to Carol, that’s when he turned 180 and became the best helper a guy could ask for.

Now for the real story, I had to take him to the vets to day, the news was bad, bone cancer and spots on his heart. Amputate the leg, no more service work, his only purpose in life. The news will probably put Carol back in the hospital, I hope and pray not! So, I brought him home, to say “See you latter, Mom” it’s time for me to go. Dad will have to pick up the slack, for now any way. Thanks for the extra years and having faith in me when I was so sick, Thanks for the extra treats when I carried the water bottle, Thanks for the hugs and Thanks for the tummy rubs, Rugger.

August 4, 2008
The rest of the story, 7 months ago we had to make a decision that would be good and bad because on one hand it gave our dog Rugger the time he wanted to spend helping and working to please the ones that spared his life 9 years ago. But on the other side of the coin was the devil just waiting to rear his ugly head once again. To force the decision that was going to allow our closest friend and helper to be put to sleep. Over the past 7 months Rugger has been on medication allowing him to do the things he loved to do the most and that is to serve with honor and loyalty the people that saved his life. For Carol it meant she had a buddy, companion, helper and someone to talk to 24/7. For me it meant I did not have to retrieve dropped items, bring another box of tissues, bring the canteen, bring the medication, take the cloths to the bedroom at night, take mom’s socks off, get her, her towel after mom’s shower, bring in the mail, get a UPS package from Ron, he also had an extra bone in the box behind the seat!

But 3 weeks ago I started noticing I was doing a little more and Rugger was doing a little less. He was also not being as close to mom; he would go off to another room and find a spot to sleep. He was now spending his time away from Mom and lying on the floor within sight of me. So I started paying more attention to his eyes and body language and I did not like what I was seeing. Rugger was telling me, Dad I am getting tired, it’s time to pick up some of the chores for me. As the days moved on the responsiveness became a little less each day, No more taking the socks off, No more towel in the morning, No more trips to the mail box, No more canteen in the morning and Dad you might as well bring the pills to mom also.

Dad, notice my leg, it’s twice as swollen as it was. Oops, slipped off the step going out to visit the back yard. Darn it’s hard getting in the dog door. Thanks, dad for opening the patio door for me. Boy, it’s boring just lying here all day, but the pain in my eyes is taking it’s toll, what’s that on dad’s cheek, a tear, two, three…………….. Why are mom and dad so sad, I am not doing anything, just lying here sleeping and only getting up to make it out to go potty. Dad, thanks for the water dish and the ham and Swiss cheese snacks you are bring to me.

Darn, where are they going, the wheel chair, mom’s bag, dad’s shoes, the LEASH – MY COLLAR, Oh Boy a ride!! What’s this, the vets, why is every one crying………….ouch! Hey, why am I getting so sleepy - - - - at least my leg does not hurt any more - - - - Where is this place and why are mom and dad are crying so hard. There’s a Rainbow Bridge over here and all these other dogs and cats and no one hurts...…….BO! Muggins, Calliope, Bernard, Panther, Streakier, Prissy, Keva, Pepper who are all you guys? Come on Rugger well show you around while we wait for mom and dad….

In memory of my beloved helper and service dog Rugger,.
Mom – and my right hand, Dad.