Rio

My beloved doggie, buddy and little brother Rio died last Friday, October 29 2010. He was 13.5 years old. 

We humans console ourselves and each other by saying things like, "Well, 13.5 is actually 94 in dog years".  True, but that's a matematical conversion that does nothing to diminish the pain.  It feels too short. It feels that way in my heart.

Rio was our very big, very loving family dog. My little brother, Todd asked for a dog when he was young.  My parents strongly resisted because of the work that goes into owning a dog. Dogs by nature are stinky, messy and they take up too much of your personal time to care for.  But Todd persisted, and my parents found themselves driving up to Pet Palace in Odgen Utah "just to look". 

When we all walked into the pet store, little Rio was curled up in the corner of a glass dog pen trying to sleep. There were other puppies in the pen with him, but he seemed unaffected by their frolicking and playful nipping. Todd immediately went to that little sleeping puppy and picked him up in his arms and loved him. Rio was never put back down in that pen. We took him home with us that evening. And so began 13.5 years of caring for and loving that stinky, messy dog who somehow became a true member of our family-not just the family dog

One time in high school I was having a particularly hard day and I came home, walked upstairs to my room, shut the door and started bawling.  Rio, being the sensitive dog doggie that he was, climbed the stairs to my room, let himself in, climbed onto my bed with me and licked my tears dry. He then continued to sit with me until I calmed down. That experience was just a taste of what Rio was like his entire life.  Always super sweet and super sensitive to those around him. 

Rio loved walks, riding in the car with his head out of the window, watching "doggie TV" from the comforts of our front yard.  Rio never liked being left behind.  He was afterall, part of the family. Whenever we had family dinners or parties, Rio was already right in the middle determined that no one would forget he was there. 

One of the greatest traits about Rio is that he never left our yard. Upon reflecting about him after his death, I believe he never left our yard because he never needed to. The love and attention he needed was right at home-why wander anywhere else to find what you already have?  When I go to my parents house now, I look at the spot that I would always find Rio sitting and my heart aches.  He was always a permanent fixture in my parents yard and I miss seeing his cute doggie face. 

The years went by and Rio started to age.  The long walks he used to take as an agile and youthful puppy slowly became limited to walking to the edge of my parents yard or as far as the church lawn behind their house.  About three years ago, Rio damaged his two back legs and since then had never fully recovered and unfortunately was never the same dog.  He preferred sitting and watching as compared to running and exploring.  Rio started to become an old man and it was hard for us to see him age.Rio then started to grow tumors all over the outside of his body.  Several times,  my parents had them removed but they kept growing back.  Rio hated those surgeries and he never recovered very well.  It hurt him and it hurt us to see him hurting. 

Rio was always a fighter and he would try and be happy and try to continue to be a part of the family whenever we all were around but it was becoming very evident that he was old and that his poor little body could not keep going.  It even pained him to try and sit down on his two old arthritic legs.  My family and I finally made the decision that many dog owners do not want to make.   We knew Rio needed to be out of the pain and misery and we wanted to be merciful to him.  We agreed that by the end of fall 2010, we would have to let our loyal dog, friend, and brother go.  We all spent time with him and loved and hugged him and all got to say goodbye. 

On October 29th 2010, my family and I all joined Rio at the Vet to say goodbye and wished him a loving and fond farewell.  It was a very sad experience but it was also very peaceful-no fear, no anxiety from Rio.  My dad has always had a very special spot in his heart for Rio and sat rubbing his ears until he left us.  The sweetest thing is is that Rio slowly leaned into my dad as he took one last breath.  The rest of the story is history.  My family and I spent the rest of the weekend crying and laughing and speaking fond memories of little family member, Rio.

Someone you love can never live too long. And any dog owner will tell you that dogs never live long enough.  A dog is a dog is a dog is so untrue.  And while relationships with a dog may be short in human terms, little else compares to the sweetness of those years. 

Without dogs, our houses are cold receptables for things.  Dogs make our fires warmer with their curled tails and their loud snoring. They wake us, greet us, protect us, and ultimately carve a place in our hearts and our history. On reflection, our lives are often referenced in parts defined by the all-too-short lives of our dogs. 

One of my most favorite books is called "Marley and Me". The author Jon Grogan put into words what I believe is very dog lovers desire to say about their own dog ( of course I have inserted Rio's name here):

"Rio taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things-a walk in the hollow, a fresh snowfall, a nap in the shaft of winter sunlight.  As he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly he taught me about friendship and selflessness and above all else, unwavering loyalty, Rio taught me courage, devotion, simplicty and joy.

A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes. Status symbols mean nothing to them. A waterlogged stick would do just fine.  A dog judges others not by their color or creed or class but by who they are on the inside. A dog doesn't care if you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull.  Give him your heart and he will give you his.  It was really quite simple, and yet we humans so much wiser and sophisticated, have always had trouble figuring out what really counts and what does not."

When my family walked into that little pet store 13.5 years ago and didn't want that stinky, smelly and time consuming dog-we were all so mistaken.  Rio has been loyal and has never asked for anything but our love and in return he gave his unconditional love back to us.  He was and is a family member and there is a spot in my heart that aches because I miss him so much.  I believe that just as we will be together with our families again after this life, that we will also be with our family pets someday too. 

Thank you so much Rio for being such a wonderful part of my life! I love you!