Soft

Thursday, October 29, 2009
Today is the day of the Incomparable Boogie's™ surgery. I dropped him off at the animal hospital first thing this morning, and his vet's assistant called a few minutes ago to let me know they were done with the surgery.

The surgery wasn't very complex - he had a soft benign tumor removed from his neck before it gets large enough to require a general anesthesia. As it is, it was removed with a sedative and a local. Since Boogie is a very large dog, and will be eight years old next month, a general really isn't a good idea at this stage of his life. So it was sedation and a local.

I was very anxious while I was waiting on the status report. Hell, I'm always anxious when I think Boogie's health is in jeopardy. Because I am so soft for that silly dog I can't even believe it.

Boogie is a family dog, to be sure. He loves the Smart Man and the Smart Twins, and they love him. Training him was a group effort, and caring for him is, too. Boogie loves his temporary caregivers - his Hot Grandma and his Hot Auntie Anne and his Smart Uncle Dale.

But in my heart, Boogie is my dog. I've worked from home either several days a week or full time his entire life, and we spend each and every day together. We go for walkies every morning. He keeps me company. He makes me laugh. He encourages me to take a break and play. He distracts me when I want to hit someone in the face with a shovel. He keeps my blood pressure down.

I love my Boogie-Dog more than I thought I could love a pet. Of course, I've never had a pet with whom I spent so much time, so I have nothing to compare it to.

If the Smart Man predeceases me, I shall be a "dog lady" rather than a "cat lady." If I can stand to even get another dog after Boogie, that is. I think the recent death of a friend's dear pet and Boogie's surgery has made me maudlin.
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Updated 10/29/2009 12:46 p.m.: Boogie's home and resting comfortably. He's still a bit groggy, and his back legs are none too steady, but he had a few bites of kibble and a small drink and is napping his way to recovery.

6 comments:

Cindi in CO said...

You know, after having Pandora for 20 years, I thought I'd never be able to go down that road again. But the house just feels so EMPTY without furry friends, and I hated coming home to the lack of them. So I took another plunge, several in fact, and I never regret it.

Good luck to Boogie Dog, the cutie.

Anne C. said...

I do love doggies too. So much so that I recognize the unsuitability of my life to dog ownership. I am away from the house way too often to provide the proper companionship a dog needs.

That being said, I have been VERY tempted lately by a suggestion from my sister that when she and her family get another pup, that I should get a brother or sister pup. I work at a fairly dog-friendly workplace now, so long hours wouldn't be a big obstacle anymore.

As I said, it is VERY tempting.

WendyB_09 said...

I miss having a dog. At some point when I have my own vehicle again and am financially stable, I suspect one of the German Shepherd rescue groups will be hearing from me.

Sigh...give Boogie an extra pat from me.

mattw said...

I'm glad Boogie's doing ok.

After my father-in-law lost his dog, Shady, about two years ago it was really hard on him. At the time it was just him and the dog at home. He's always said, when the time is right, another dog will find him, just like Shady did.

Teacher and Learner said...

I am hoping for a perfect surgery

MWT said...

Good to hear his surgery went well. Yay untumored Boogie. :)