Blue’s Parade of People

Before I ever thought to propose to Brittani, I already knew we would get a dog. She had grown up with dogs, shared stories with me about the heartache and joy of raising them and why it was ultimately worth it. I didn’t grow up with dogs – we ski in the winter and dogs weren’t yet allowed in our cabin so the dogs we did have ultimately went to live with neighbors (they actually did – this isn’t a fictional neighbor with a farm upstate.) So, while apprehensive, I was excited for our first dog together.

We’ve never been great at timing such things so of course the dog search began just as we were buying our first home in Kirkland, WA and each starting new jobs – might as well start it all at once. While unpacking boxes at night we’d scour humane society websites – searching for a dog over a year old, house broken – ya know, to make the transition easier. But one evening – we caught a glimpse, of a jet-black puppy with a tennis ball in his mouth in Everett. His name was Blue.

We went to the Everett Humane Society on a Saturday – a beautiful new building brimming with all the cats and dogs you could ask for. We had an appointment to see Blue and his brother Camo – all we knew about them was they were left there at 3-months because the owners “had too many animals.” They were in separate glass-lined kennels facing each other and immediately perked up upon our arrival. We were let into see Blue first who’s puppy eyes were fixed on Brittani. We went into his kennel so he could show us his ball and his first signature Blue move. He stuck his nose straight in the air so we could pet his chin – arching further and further back. Though, with the paws of a 2-year old Doberman and the coordination of a newborn he immediately tipped over backward and peed on himself trying to get up. This dog melted us, right then and there.

It’s not even that Camo was a bad dog! Far from it – he was a beautiful doby/lab puppy with tons of energy, it’s just that Blue was different. He was lanky and awkward – real Dinsmore vibes. We put Blue on a 2-hour hold so we could swiftly find the nearest bar for some liquid courage. After a couple IPA’s and a pros/cons list that was frankly mostly cons given our current life/work situation – we made the only sane decision and adopted him immediately (don’t worry – Camo was adopted the same day.) Two-weeks later he waddled out to the car with a warning from the vet, “do you know how much energy this dog is going to have?”

And this began Blue’s parade of people.

From minute one of Blue entering our front door we knew we were in for it. He looked at us wide-eyed and started sprinting laps around our tiny  living room, rug to rug bounding over our couches repeatedly. What the hell have we done I thought.

Blue was so much work for the first several years I probably blocked it out. It was an endless slog from daycare in Redmond to Lacey for dog training to laps around parks/tennis courts/our neighborhood – anywhere with enough space and four walls so he didn’t run away (he liked the woods.) He begged endlessly for food, didn’t get along with most dogs – to the point we pulled him out of daycare all together, and he couldn’t digest normal dog food – leading to horrible bouts of diarrhea and most of our paychecks going to rug doctor rentals until we found food that worked.

We were exhausted at the end of the day. Dogs are a lot of work – but shit, are they THIS much work!? Regardless, we were determined. We told ourselves, every dog slows down eventually, or at the very least has a routine we can expect.

The thing is – Blue never did. So, we took him EVERYWHERE. Out to dinner? He was in the car. Heading to a bar? Dog friendly please. Up to Crystal to ski? Pack his sweater because he’d end up in the woods for hours. Family function? My Mom had a bed for him to lay in the kitchen while she made dinner (we called it Blue TV.) And everyone helped. When we went on a trip, friends and family would chip in to watch him. If they weren’t available – our dog trainer would take him in. Our vet was constantly available for his various flesh wounds and random ailments.

All of this effort, this work created a bond that was unbreakable between the three of us. Blue’s energy was almost hypnotic, it felt like a video game achievement to get him to relax at night. It also kept us outside, playing rain, snow or shine. Everyday we were outside – he didn’t care. Ball, grass, go!

And in our circle – he was the first one. We were so young and he grew up alongside us. He met every new friend and dog, went to every new house and stole every new babies’ food out of their hand. When Walter followed our friends’ home and came to live with us – he had to learn to have a brother too. Everything was a first.

As the years passed our world revolved around the two pups. The work had paid off. We sold our house and bought in Shorewood – a fenced in yard that not even Blue could escape from (he dug under the fence, so we were wrong but still the thought counts.) Britt installed a dog door that is comically large in scale. The Puget Sound is close, so we’d walk him down to do his favorite thing and swim as often as he could. He ran up and down the sandy beach and swam and smiled. At the end of the day – all he needed was to snuggle the nearest human and chew his tennis ball.

But in late summer 2019 Blue got sick. We noticed him slowing down earlier in the year but thought hey – he’s 8 years old and a big guy – they all slow down eventually. But this was different. He didn’t have the same joy everyday. Everything was labored, he went from vibrant to barely able to use his back legs in a few weeks. It was cancer in his spine.

It’s a pretty helpless feeling knowing you can’t help your best friend, especially while trying to distract each other in a suburban Applebee’s waiting for the doctor to call. The best news we got was after his diagnosis he was able to come home. With the help of a harness, steroids and CBD he may be able to even walk.

And then the most amazing thing happened. Each day Blue’s parade of people returned, one by one to visit him. All those years, all that help, all those people came back to hug and kiss him again. And over this month he got stronger and stronger. Britt and I swapped half days at work to be there with him and eventually he was walking, wanting to be outside in the sunshine and chew his ball. We were even able to get him on a few of his favorite neighborhood loops.

Then, on a late-August day he got up looking as strong as ever. Britt and I thought we would give it a shot. We leashed him up and walked he and Walter to the beach. For the next 30-40 minutes he used all his strength to swim after his tennis ball, chase sticks, chomp driftwood and chew all the seaweed he could. We took pictures and videos, marveling at what we were seeing. We brought him home and dried him off on the front porch. He was spent but seemed at peace. We wrapped him in blankets, laid with him and cried.

A week later our Blue was gone.

Blue’s life was too short, this much I know. But I remember fondly our last month with him, his queen size mattress topper in the middle of the living room covered in blankets and toys – not everyone is afforded that month we had at the end. And I saw the impact on nearly our entire adult life – how he literally shaped it and in so many ways – still does.  I remember how lucky we were that through all the trouble he caused, he picked us up and stole our heart that day in Everett. He made our lives better, in the darkest times. And in late August – his parade ended in the sun, on his beach with stories, laughter and tears from all the people we love so dearly – who helped us and loved him so much.

If an end could be perfect – this was it. I miss you everyday Blue. I love you.