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Butch was born sometime in the spring of 1994, and passed away on November 17, 2008 at roughly 9:15 a.m. He was fourteen and one half. November 17th was such a picture perfect, beautiful bright sunny and warm day. No breezes. It was just a breathtaking fall day in Albuquerque.
We got him from the Animal Humane Association Clinic on Virginia Street, S.E., in Albuquerque, NM. That was in August, 1998. At that time, our former dog had passed away, and I wanted another dog for my elderly mom. I had a few years left in my career in the Army, and I didn’t want her to be all alone.
The card on his cage said he was four years old and loves to cuddle, and his name was Butch. It also said that he came from a family that had too many dogs, and he was elected to be the one to go. The attendants said he was past his allotted time there, but he was so nice and so cute, they extended his time twice. They just knew one day a nice family would come and adopt him. We were the lucky one!
He was part Chow, and the other part? No one knew. He sure had a nice disposition though. Most Chows get a bad rap, but a dog is like how you raise them. If they are in a loving environment, they give love back - unconditionally. Butch had a strong sense of self-awareness right from the start. He was an individual and I could tell he had private thoughts of just about everything.
We found out right away that Butch was real nice around young children and very tolerant of just about everything. He had such a sweet disposition. He never would bark. He only wined a little when he needed something, or just wanted attention and maybe a good massage. He loved to go for long walks in the near-by park, and had to mark his new territory daily. At least until another dog came along.
He never paid much attention to dogs passed on the way, sort of acting aloof, like most Chow dogs do. He also had a real good appetite and loved his dog food with a hot dog chopped up in it. He also loved to test our food for us, and made sure he was in on licking out our dishes! He loved to sit under the dining room table so he could have an unobstructed view of what was going on in the kitchen.
He liked to manage us. His internal clock was very accurate for his favorite happenings. He knew when it was time to eat dinner, and if we were late, he would stare us in the face and let out a little whimper. When he was a little younger, and it was that favorite time, we could say to him “Who wants to eat, eat, eat?” and he would raise up on his hind legs and bounce off of us with his front paws. All the time we had him, he never had any accidents in the house. He was very clean.
We were there to comfort him during those fierce New Mexico winds and storms that were full of thunder and lightning. Butch didn’t like the Fourth of July much either. He loved to ride in cars and wanted to be with us all the time. On some wintry sunny days when it was a little too cool in the house, my mom would go out in the car where the sun warmed it cozily, and read her books. Butch would go out with her to simply sit in the back seat, sleeping away the afternoons. That seat fit him just right and he enjoyed it for years.
Every time my mom left me off at the airport for my trips to perform military duty or go out of town on business trips for my civilian employment, Butch would come along in the back seat. He would always continue looking at me through the rear window as the car drove out of site.
Butch went to the groomers about twice a year. It started out at $65 per visit, ending at $105. He had a lot of hair but the groomers gouged us pretty bad. He was always good and Dawn said he was a joy to do. He never had any red marks on his card. The last year of his life, Butch couldn’t get into the car to go, so I did him at home. He couldn’t shake himself off anymore, but he really loved to get rubbed dry by the many towels needed. He was funny!
The years went by too quickly and I knew it was going to be a sad day when God felt his time was up. I finally retired from the Army in April, 2003, and loved to be home with Butch all the time. We became very close. His final year plagued him with a hip dysplasia, which is commonly found in larger breeds of dogs which can be caused by genetics or the environment. He didn't seem to be in any pain, and he loved his daily massages. I used to kid him that he walked like a banana. He was partially blind as well and couldn’t hear very well to boot. Butch had special needs by this time and really depended on me to help him. He seemed not let this bother him though, knowing I was just a "hoot" away - the sound he used to call me with. I massaged him at least two times a day, especially right after he got up in the morning, and he just loved it. I really got close to him and really loved him dearly. He was my boy!
He died peacefully at his favorite spot in the house, in his sleeping position, placing his head down between his two front paws. I was there and kept petting him, not really knowing the actual time he went, since it was so peaceful. Even in death, he looked as though he was simply sleeping. I fixed up a nice grave for him in the side back yard near the cats. It is under partial shade and I know that he'd like that. Since it took me many hours to dig his grave, because I wanted it to be just right, I ran out of time to intern him on the same day that he died. So I left him overnight under the kitchen table where he liked to sit a lot and spend some of his days.
I finished up the grave the next morning. I didn’t want the dirt to touch him so I made a wooden coffin like thing. When it was prepared, I went and put him in a large bag prior to carrying him out to his grave site. He still looked like he was just simply sleeping. I said a long good bye to him, petting his head constantly while I kissed him on his forehead several times. I told him that when I see him in heaven in a few years, we will go for long walks again. I sealed up the bag, sobbing all the time, and carried him out to his final resting place. I performed a make-shift sermon and said “please God, send his spirit to heaven because if any dog should go, he is the one."
Later in the day, I went to a local hobby shop and bought a plaster object that I used to make a memorial head stone. I put his name on it with some sentiments. The day he died and the day after when I buried him, were the last of the warm mild days for this fall. They were just beautiful warm, blue sky Albuquerque days and picture perfect! It turned cold after these. I really miss Butch and still sob a lot, even though I am 60 years. I currently live alone. My mom is still living and went to a senior retirement community where we were from in Illinois. I make out though like he is still around and pretend to talk to him. He was my companion, friend, and little boy!
He loved to go on trips with us, but this one was for him only. I feel he left me behind, but he couldn’t help it. I feel lost and lonely without him. I miss taking care of him and doing all the daily stuff to make him comfortable. Every once in a while I’ll drag out the old lawn chair and sit in the backyard, enjoying the beautiful New Mexico sunny weather. Along with a little wisp of wind, a small clump of hair will blow by that I immediately recognize as his. Grooming Butch many times outdoors, I knew there were some hidden bits and pieces of his hair left that bushes and trees seem to grasp onto, saving them for special occasions such as this, and release them to me. As they blow by, I know it is Butch reminding me to remember him, and saying “hi” on such a beautiful day.