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judow
Darth Vader - R.I.P
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Ezekiel Volkerding was born December 23, 1995 in Edgewood New Mexico. We knew him as Toby.
Toby came to us on June 1, 2003. Today is June 4, 2012. He’s been a part of our family for nine years. What little we know about his first home is that he was trained to be submissive – look good but do nothing except what you’re told. He was given to the local Golden Retriever Rescue Shelter in Albuquerque. It had been two years since the passing of our other Golden, Baron and about a year after this I communicated with the shelter and said that if they got an older dog, they should call me. I knew puppies found homes immediately but not necessarily older dogs. I got a call and was told that they had two, a girl and a boy. With the best intentions I was off to Albuquerque to in all likelihood adopt the girl. As it happened, I opened the passenger door of my Jimmy and Toby jumped in and proudly sat. The rest is history.
Toby was a very laid back dog who apparently never played. He wouldn’t retrieve, he wouldn’t romp but he would never leave your side. He was the best behaved dog we ever had. He was the only dog I knew who would stay in the house for 12+ hours at a time with never a need to go outside. He would go outside and never leave the yard. He peed and pood on command. Yes, he really did. He loved to go for a ride and would get excited but would then settle in the back and sleep until you stopped. He wouldn’t get out of the car unless it was in his own yard. A trip to the vet was always interesting. We knew Toby loved us and we loved him. I can’t begin to recall how many times I left him in the car in the garage because I forget I took him with me. Feeling very guilty I would rush to get him and he would just give me that look of “I knew you’d remember.”
It is now 5:30 PM and the vet is scheduled to come to the house for 7:00 PM. Toby needs to pass. He is about 75% blind and deaf. Needs help to get up and is now walking for only very short distances. He is forgetting where to go and sometimes just stops as though he can’t remember what he was doing. He has gone downhill a lot in the past 3 weeks. We are sure it is time to let him go.
We are comforted by the belief that Toby has no concept of death. We as humans do and perhaps that is why it is so sad for us. Toby needs to sleep and as his caregivers we need to give peace to him.
The daughter of my best friend posted on FaceBook the following:
Dog Ten Commandments
1. My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any
separation from you will be painful remember
that before you get me.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me- it is crucial to my wellbeing.
4. Do not be angry at me for long, and do not lock
me up as punishment.
5. You have your work, your entertainment, and your friends.
I only have you.
6. Talk to me sometimes. Even if I don't understands your words,
I understand your voice when it is speaking to me.
7. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget.
8. Remember before you hit me that I have teeth that could
easily hurt you, but I choose not to bite you because I
love you.
9. Before you scold me for being uncooperative, obstinate or lazy,
ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I
might not be getting the right food, or I have been out too
long, or my heart is getting too old and weak.
10. Take care of me when I get old; you too will grow old. Go
with me on difficult journeys. Never say: "I cannot bear to
watch" or "Let it happen in my absence." Everything
is easier for me if you are there, even my death.
Remember that I love you.
We have honored the first nine commandments, it is now time to honor the tenth. Toby will be cremated and placed with our other departed pets in the china cabinet to always be remembered. They will also be placed with us when it is our time.
We love you, Toby.
Doug and Judy
Toby came to us on June 1, 2003. Today is June 4, 2012. He’s been a part of our family for nine years. What little we know about his first home is that he was trained to be submissive – look good but do nothing except what you’re told. He was given to the local Golden Retriever Rescue Shelter in Albuquerque. It had been two years since the passing of our other Golden, Baron and about a year after this I communicated with the shelter and said that if they got an older dog, they should call me. I knew puppies found homes immediately but not necessarily older dogs. I got a call and was told that they had two, a girl and a boy. With the best intentions I was off to Albuquerque to in all likelihood adopt the girl. As it happened, I opened the passenger door of my Jimmy and Toby jumped in and proudly sat. The rest is history.
Toby was a very laid back dog who apparently never played. He wouldn’t retrieve, he wouldn’t romp but he would never leave your side. He was the best behaved dog we ever had. He was the only dog I knew who would stay in the house for 12+ hours at a time with never a need to go outside. He would go outside and never leave the yard. He peed and pood on command. Yes, he really did. He loved to go for a ride and would get excited but would then settle in the back and sleep until you stopped. He wouldn’t get out of the car unless it was in his own yard. A trip to the vet was always interesting. We knew Toby loved us and we loved him. I can’t begin to recall how many times I left him in the car in the garage because I forget I took him with me. Feeling very guilty I would rush to get him and he would just give me that look of “I knew you’d remember.”
It is now 5:30 PM and the vet is scheduled to come to the house for 7:00 PM. Toby needs to pass. He is about 75% blind and deaf. Needs help to get up and is now walking for only very short distances. He is forgetting where to go and sometimes just stops as though he can’t remember what he was doing. He has gone downhill a lot in the past 3 weeks. We are sure it is time to let him go.
We are comforted by the belief that Toby has no concept of death. We as humans do and perhaps that is why it is so sad for us. Toby needs to sleep and as his caregivers we need to give peace to him.
The daughter of my best friend posted on FaceBook the following:
Dog Ten Commandments
1. My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any
separation from you will be painful remember
that before you get me.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me- it is crucial to my wellbeing.
4. Do not be angry at me for long, and do not lock
me up as punishment.
5. You have your work, your entertainment, and your friends.
I only have you.
6. Talk to me sometimes. Even if I don't understands your words,
I understand your voice when it is speaking to me.
7. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget.
8. Remember before you hit me that I have teeth that could
easily hurt you, but I choose not to bite you because I
love you.
9. Before you scold me for being uncooperative, obstinate or lazy,
ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I
might not be getting the right food, or I have been out too
long, or my heart is getting too old and weak.
10. Take care of me when I get old; you too will grow old. Go
with me on difficult journeys. Never say: "I cannot bear to
watch" or "Let it happen in my absence." Everything
is easier for me if you are there, even my death.
Remember that I love you.
We have honored the first nine commandments, it is now time to honor the tenth. Toby will be cremated and placed with our other departed pets in the china cabinet to always be remembered. They will also be placed with us when it is our time.
We love you, Toby.
Doug and Judy
