He hobbled up and down the steps, frequently stumbling as he did his best to hop up them as he used to. But those days are past; he climbed slowly, arthritis having taken its toll on his aging joints. Sometime he even needed assistance to maneuver the three steps from the kitchen door to the backyard and back in again, especially in.
He lay in his favorite spot in the back yard. I tried to coax him to eat but he refused. I think he must have had some kind of inkling of what was to come. His doctor thought his spleen might have ruptured, a not uncommon occurrence in older dogs. He had been ill for a short time, only a little over a month or so and he lost weight quickly.
I remember his youth when he would sail over the fence around the back yard. I thought he was either part deer or had wings. The 4-foot fence became 4 foot with the addition of more wire atop the original fence. That extra foot was not a deterrent for our winged canine, either. So another 1-foot strip was added, this time angled inward. Finally, he could not escape.
He assisted my husband and I with gardening, yard work, and mechanics. A naturally obedient dog, Highway lived to please. We never worried about his running away or wandering off. As much as he jumped the fence, he never strayed far and seemed to have a natural instinct to stay away from the road in front of our house. A reminder from either myself or my husband and Highway would turn immediately from his rambling and return to our side. Even during a walk in the field behind our house, when a rabbit enticed him into a chase, he returned immediately with a word from my husband.
We didn’t have many problems with Highway, but he did have a few quirks. He didn’t like small children even though he was raised with kids coming and going often. About the time they got to be 10 or 11, he accepted them and would allow them to caress him.
He tolerated our cocker spaniel only when Shadow was leashed while Highway was indoors. It probably had something to do with a leader-of-the-pack attitude and the way Shadow made Highway submit when Highway was a small bundle of fur. If Shadow were not leashed in Highway’s presence, there would invariably be a dogfight, especially if I was also present.
He also had a problem with veterinary visits. A muzzle was required every time a visit was made; even then he barely tolerated the exams. Except for his last visit, when he allowed his doctor to pet him. His vet remarked that he knew Highway didn’t feel good, when he willingly allowed that.
Highway was around 14 years old when we had to say good-bye in March. He lived his final days at home, sleeping most of the time. He was a good dog, one of the best—obedient, happy, loyal, and content to just be in our presence. We will miss him for a long, long time.
Our Perspective
Good-bye Highway
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