Scottish Pet Portraits |
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| (1) A Working Colley |
| (2) Patsy Ann - 'Official Greeter of Juneau, Alaska' |
| (3) Beckett |
| (4) Eric Knight - creator of 'Lassie' |
| (5) Stickeen by John Muir 1909 |
| (6) Balto |
| (7) Old Yeller |
| (8) Old Shep |
| (9) Greyfriars Bobby |
| (10) A Little Hero |
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Beckett I just got back from my Valkyrie act, taking all five dogs to the vet's for heartworm checks by myself. Of course, I asked for the first appointment of the day, to avoid the craziness of Saturday appointments. When I walked in with my five, I was surprised to see a knot of people in the back room. The door was open. The vet still had her coat on, and I could see they were performing CPR on a large Rottie. The tech came out and apologised for the fact that I'd have to wait. No problem. Do what you have to do, I said. I can wait all day. They left the door open. Beckett stood and watched it all intently, never taking his eyes off the back room. Finally, a guy in sweats came out and told me what was going on. He'd been joggin through the parking lot when he heard a man he had just passed cry out, "Oh, no Charlie." And then, "Help, I think he's dead." |
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| This man had called in on his car phone to tell the clinic he was bringing in his two year old Rottie, Charlie. Charlie had been vomitting last night, and this morning was unable to get up and appeared to be very sick. He loaded him in the car, calling the clinic on the way there. He got there as the tech was opening up, and left Charlie in the car until the vet arrived, since Charlie weighed 150 pounds, and he wanted a gurney to get him in. As the vet arrived, the guy went back out to the car to check on the dog, as the vet and the tech prepared to follow him out with the gurney. That's when he found Charlie apparently dead, and the jogger turned back to help them. When they got Charlie inside, moments before I got there with my gang, they found a faint heartbeat and attempted to revive him. The jogger came out to talk to me just as they were giving up, after about 20 minutes of CPR. |
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| Meanwhile, Beckett never took his eyes off the goings-on in the back room. The rest of the gang were lying down or milling around, but Beckett was like a statue watching that back room. We had a clear view of everything, and he was watching it all. He watched as they rolled the gurney out to us, and out the door. He watched as they loaded Charlie's body back into the car. He watched as the group of people came back inside. The owner sat down in the chair next to me and put his head in his hands and sobbed. Beckett watched. And watched. After about a minute, Beckett quietly moved around the rest of my gang, and walked over to the man, and very slowly slid his head under the man's hands and hid his face in the man's lap. And then just stood there. That's when the vet and the tech and I looked at each other and all lost it at the same moment. |
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| Then the man lifted his head and looked down at Beckett, who still had his face hidden against the man's belly, and was standing there as quiet as a statue. The man spread his hands and sat looking down at the back of Beckett's neck, somewhat bewildered, and then he looked up at us, with his hands still spread, as if to say, "What's this?" Then Beckett looked up at him, and kissed his face, and the man threw his arms around Beckett and hid his face against Beckett's neck and cried for about another minute. Then he stood up, wiped his arm over his face, gave us a little sad smile and walked out. No-one said anything. Beckett walked over to the door and watched him leave, then he turned back to me, licked my face once, and lay down on the floor next to my chair. The vet, the tech and I just sort of looked at one another, and then began to weigh the dogs and get on with things. None of us mentioned what had just occured until later, when the vet finished drawing Beckett's blood. She was kneeling next to him on the floor and when she finished, she put her arm around him, and looked up at me and said, "What a wonderful dog - he just took care of all of us, didn't he?" "Yes," I said, "He's something special. I think I'll keep him." And I think I will. They still don't know what Charlie died from. I feel very sad that such a beautiful young dog died so suddenly, and that nothing could be done to save him. Maybe from his spot at the Rainbow Bridge Charlie saw the small act of kindness that Beckett offered to his owner, and when Beckett makes his own passage to the Bridge, there will be a big, beautiful Rottie among the dogs from Magi who will be waiting to greet him. Origionally written by Ginny Lunt vlunt@drew.edu |
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Photograph by Suzanne Clothier |
Beckett |
...To live in this world |
Mary Oliver |
| At noon on June 25, 2002, I let Beckett go. He left his frail and failing body behind the same way that he had lived - with speed, grace, and dignity, as any Greyhound would have wished. The only way I can picture him now is running and leaping, whole and happy, with the same abandon and joy with which he lived each day. To Suzanne Clothier and Marnie Reeder, I extend my deepest thanks. Each of them loved Beckett, too, and each in their own way made sacrifices that made it possible for Beckett to be in my life. You each know what you did, and what it cost you. Maybe you do not know how deep and rich and unending a gift I received through your actions. There are a thousand words to describe Beckett, and no words that will do. He was the most unusual spirit to ever grace my life. I am thankful for him. He taught me much, and I am better for having known him. Rest well, Beckett. Run swiftly. I see you everywhere, in everything, and you are still beautiful. Ginny Lunt |
| True dog stories (1) A Working Colley |
| True dog stories (2) Patsy Ann - 'Official Greeter of Juneau, Alaska' |
| True dog stories (4) Eric Knight - creator of 'Lassie' |
| True dog stories (5) Stickeen by John Muir 1909 |
| True Dog Stories (6) Balto |
| True Dog Stories (7) Old Yeller |
| True Dog Stories (8) Old Shep |
| True Dog Stories (9) Greyfriars Bobby |
| True Dog Stories (10) A Little Hero |
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