Some fragmented thoughts on caring for—and learning from—our old dog, growing asparagus and tulips and garlic, eating my way through the Twin Cities, and a bald eagle-turned-foster father
I scrolled through the text very rapidly to see if this was going to be a sort of obituary, but now that I've seen you still write about Fozzie in the present tense, I can go back and properly read the essay :)
(I'm more of a cat person myself, but I do get very attached to pets and always enjoy Fozzie content!)
What a wonderful tribute to Fozzie and all of the blessings and challenges of canine companionship! We have recently adopted a rescue puppy - turns out that we old dogs can learn new tricks!
I loved hearing about your sweet old man! There's something so special about being trusted by your dog. I lost my sweet boy Kobe last August, a month before he turned 16. Maybe loving him so much is a maladaptive behavior, but like you, I don't mind at all. He was a min-pin chihuahua mix, tiny but mighty, and fiercely protective of me. I would regularly watch him sleep next to me and wonder at how we could have such a strong bond and yet have no way to actually speak to one another. Somehow, without a shared language, we still knew and understood each other. When I hurt my back and laid down on my bed, he jumped up, sat next to me, and rested his tiny head on my chest. When my toddler niece and nephew were too much for him, he would quietly walk over to me and sit in my lap, like he knew I would keep him safe. And a few years ago when I was searching for my first apartment, I used to joke (but really was serious) and say that I was really searching for Kobe's retirement home. I know I anthropomorphized him a lot (probably too much), but he was the closest I've ever had to a child, and I'm so grateful I had him in my life. I'm so glad that Fozzie has you and Tristan to love and be loved by in his final years. And Kobe would want you to give him an extra treat today in his honor--these old pups deserve it!
Molly’s intuition with Fozzy reminded me of my 60 pound pit bull rescue Dean. When playing tug with someone, Dean adjusted his play to match his “opponent” from my husband who would literally pick him off the ground to the frail uncle dying from cancer that caused the 6 foot tall man to drop down in weight to 90 pounds. I will never forget the smile on my uncle’s face. Thank you Dean. I miss you.
There have been so many sweet pets in my life growing up but the only one I was old enough to really have to say goodbye to was our sweet Sugar. Mom took us to a pet store (I know, I l know) that was right next to the grocery store we shopped at. It was our treat for behaving ourselves to go look at all the animals. This was during a time when my dad traveled a lot for work so my mom was often on her own with 4 kids under the age of 6. One of those times, there was a litter of chihuahua-poodles puppies. All the other puppies were scrambling around and barking their heads off except for this white one who was curled up sleeping. We fell in love with her and picked her up and took her home immediately. Didn't even call Dad until we got home. We adored her for 15 years. She saw 4 kids all the way through elementary, middle, and high school and part of college. She was a staple in our family. She wasn't a fan of little kids (not great in a family with 17 cousins and counting) or other dogs (only made the mistake of pet sitting for a friend once) but she loved to find a patch sunshine or sit with someone calmly on the couch. We took her everywhere including camping. When her feet would get wet crossing a creek she looked like a cotton ball with chicken legs and she'd doze in the camper when we went on longer hikes. Eventually she got old and things started to shut down. Most of us were able to come home and be with her when she passed.
When my husband and I got married and moved to Nashville we desperately wanted a pet but couldn't manage a dog at the time. So instead when a friend of mine in Illinois needed to find a home for some barn cats, I drove the four hours there and back to pick up our little calico runt of the litter with a heart murmur Piper. She's the tiniest thing and acts more like a dog than Sugar ever did - wants to play all the time, gets into everyone's shoes, begs for treats, loves guests but yowls at people walking past outside, always within a few feet of one of us. She's only five so we hopefully have a long time left with her.
These pets are so precious. Yes, give them all the treats. You are their whole world. They deserve it just for existing.
Being a longtime dog person, this was one of my favorite pieces of yours! Love how Fozzie has opened his heart to you & Tristan over time. Our latest dogs were also rescues with little known about their first 3 years. The smallest sister was very distant with us for the first year or so, but like Fozzie, she seems to be warming. In fact, she’s snuggled on my lap at present; something unheard of the first two years she lived with us. Life is better with a dog!
As I write this response, I am looking down at our dog, Hollis. A German shepherd hound mix, Hollis began his life in a cemetery where his owner also lived. When his human died, Hollis survived on his own for over a year. Even after a car hit him and horribly damaged his back leg, Hollis managed to evade animal control. Until one day . . . thankfully a pet rescue raised over $6,000 for the surgery Hollis needed. He spent the next three or so years with a lovely young couple who adored him. Unfortunately, when their first child began to walk, they realized Hollis needed a home without children who could take his toys away. Last fall, my husband and I found a photo of Hollis online and knew we were meant to be his humans. He and I are so close. He’s been with us just eight months now, but I feel like he’s always been with us.
Two months ago, we learned he has a major medical condition that he will not survive. Like Fozzie, he’s beaten the odds. Here’s to the fighters in our lives who stay and love us so well. 💕
I understand how Fozzie has made you a better human. We had to euthanize our beloved dachshund Moe Perichoresis a couple weeks ago due to a cancerous jaw tumor that eventually made it impossible to eat. Even when he was existing on 1-2 tablespoons of human food a day, he was always glad to go outside in the sunshine and smell the air. Such an ability to be present and find joy despite great physical hardship!
We got our dog Zack when we were living in Shanghai. He was a field lab, so smaller than an English lab. People asked, "How old is your puppy?" until Zack was at least 14. With my adult children gone from home, I loved having "someone" to take care of, someone to love on and do things for. His last two years were really hard -- he developed dementia, and would do things like go stand at the kitchen door to be let out, and then just remain standing there when I opened the door - I guess the equivalent of aging humans wondering "what did I come into this room for?" He loved being outside and sometimes I'd call him in for bed time and he wouldn't come, because he'd gotten himself turned around in a corner and couldn't figure out how to get out. He had accidents in the house constantly. My husband and I kept asking each other, "Is it time?" - time to euthanize him? It just felt so awful to consider that. We took him to the vet to have him checked over, and mentioned how Zack was rubbing his snout against the floor a lot, and having sort of coughing fits. The vet looked in his mouth and saw a huge cancerous growth in Zack's throat. That was Zack's last day here on this earth. Even the vet cried with us. Zack was 17 years old! He taught me patience and increased the borders of my heart.
Thank you for writing about your eating adventures in the Twin Cities. I'm a resident, and I only knew of two of the places you mentioned. The next time you come back, may I recommend Hell's Kitchen or , if you want to grab breakfast or lunch Tuesday through Friday, Hell's Cafeteria?
I scrolled through the text very rapidly to see if this was going to be a sort of obituary, but now that I've seen you still write about Fozzie in the present tense, I can go back and properly read the essay :)
(I'm more of a cat person myself, but I do get very attached to pets and always enjoy Fozzie content!)
What a wonderful tribute to Fozzie and all of the blessings and challenges of canine companionship! We have recently adopted a rescue puppy - turns out that we old dogs can learn new tricks!
I loved hearing about your sweet old man! There's something so special about being trusted by your dog. I lost my sweet boy Kobe last August, a month before he turned 16. Maybe loving him so much is a maladaptive behavior, but like you, I don't mind at all. He was a min-pin chihuahua mix, tiny but mighty, and fiercely protective of me. I would regularly watch him sleep next to me and wonder at how we could have such a strong bond and yet have no way to actually speak to one another. Somehow, without a shared language, we still knew and understood each other. When I hurt my back and laid down on my bed, he jumped up, sat next to me, and rested his tiny head on my chest. When my toddler niece and nephew were too much for him, he would quietly walk over to me and sit in my lap, like he knew I would keep him safe. And a few years ago when I was searching for my first apartment, I used to joke (but really was serious) and say that I was really searching for Kobe's retirement home. I know I anthropomorphized him a lot (probably too much), but he was the closest I've ever had to a child, and I'm so grateful I had him in my life. I'm so glad that Fozzie has you and Tristan to love and be loved by in his final years. And Kobe would want you to give him an extra treat today in his honor--these old pups deserve it!
Molly’s intuition with Fozzy reminded me of my 60 pound pit bull rescue Dean. When playing tug with someone, Dean adjusted his play to match his “opponent” from my husband who would literally pick him off the ground to the frail uncle dying from cancer that caused the 6 foot tall man to drop down in weight to 90 pounds. I will never forget the smile on my uncle’s face. Thank you Dean. I miss you.
There have been so many sweet pets in my life growing up but the only one I was old enough to really have to say goodbye to was our sweet Sugar. Mom took us to a pet store (I know, I l know) that was right next to the grocery store we shopped at. It was our treat for behaving ourselves to go look at all the animals. This was during a time when my dad traveled a lot for work so my mom was often on her own with 4 kids under the age of 6. One of those times, there was a litter of chihuahua-poodles puppies. All the other puppies were scrambling around and barking their heads off except for this white one who was curled up sleeping. We fell in love with her and picked her up and took her home immediately. Didn't even call Dad until we got home. We adored her for 15 years. She saw 4 kids all the way through elementary, middle, and high school and part of college. She was a staple in our family. She wasn't a fan of little kids (not great in a family with 17 cousins and counting) or other dogs (only made the mistake of pet sitting for a friend once) but she loved to find a patch sunshine or sit with someone calmly on the couch. We took her everywhere including camping. When her feet would get wet crossing a creek she looked like a cotton ball with chicken legs and she'd doze in the camper when we went on longer hikes. Eventually she got old and things started to shut down. Most of us were able to come home and be with her when she passed.
When my husband and I got married and moved to Nashville we desperately wanted a pet but couldn't manage a dog at the time. So instead when a friend of mine in Illinois needed to find a home for some barn cats, I drove the four hours there and back to pick up our little calico runt of the litter with a heart murmur Piper. She's the tiniest thing and acts more like a dog than Sugar ever did - wants to play all the time, gets into everyone's shoes, begs for treats, loves guests but yowls at people walking past outside, always within a few feet of one of us. She's only five so we hopefully have a long time left with her.
These pets are so precious. Yes, give them all the treats. You are their whole world. They deserve it just for existing.
Jeff, I deeply understand your love for Fozzie. Good for you for carting. D
Lovely words that filled my heart. Thank you 🌷
Being a longtime dog person, this was one of my favorite pieces of yours! Love how Fozzie has opened his heart to you & Tristan over time. Our latest dogs were also rescues with little known about their first 3 years. The smallest sister was very distant with us for the first year or so, but like Fozzie, she seems to be warming. In fact, she’s snuggled on my lap at present; something unheard of the first two years she lived with us. Life is better with a dog!
As I write this response, I am looking down at our dog, Hollis. A German shepherd hound mix, Hollis began his life in a cemetery where his owner also lived. When his human died, Hollis survived on his own for over a year. Even after a car hit him and horribly damaged his back leg, Hollis managed to evade animal control. Until one day . . . thankfully a pet rescue raised over $6,000 for the surgery Hollis needed. He spent the next three or so years with a lovely young couple who adored him. Unfortunately, when their first child began to walk, they realized Hollis needed a home without children who could take his toys away. Last fall, my husband and I found a photo of Hollis online and knew we were meant to be his humans. He and I are so close. He’s been with us just eight months now, but I feel like he’s always been with us.
Two months ago, we learned he has a major medical condition that he will not survive. Like Fozzie, he’s beaten the odds. Here’s to the fighters in our lives who stay and love us so well. 💕
I understand how Fozzie has made you a better human. We had to euthanize our beloved dachshund Moe Perichoresis a couple weeks ago due to a cancerous jaw tumor that eventually made it impossible to eat. Even when he was existing on 1-2 tablespoons of human food a day, he was always glad to go outside in the sunshine and smell the air. Such an ability to be present and find joy despite great physical hardship!
We got our dog Zack when we were living in Shanghai. He was a field lab, so smaller than an English lab. People asked, "How old is your puppy?" until Zack was at least 14. With my adult children gone from home, I loved having "someone" to take care of, someone to love on and do things for. His last two years were really hard -- he developed dementia, and would do things like go stand at the kitchen door to be let out, and then just remain standing there when I opened the door - I guess the equivalent of aging humans wondering "what did I come into this room for?" He loved being outside and sometimes I'd call him in for bed time and he wouldn't come, because he'd gotten himself turned around in a corner and couldn't figure out how to get out. He had accidents in the house constantly. My husband and I kept asking each other, "Is it time?" - time to euthanize him? It just felt so awful to consider that. We took him to the vet to have him checked over, and mentioned how Zack was rubbing his snout against the floor a lot, and having sort of coughing fits. The vet looked in his mouth and saw a huge cancerous growth in Zack's throat. That was Zack's last day here on this earth. Even the vet cried with us. Zack was 17 years old! He taught me patience and increased the borders of my heart.
Thank you for writing about your eating adventures in the Twin Cities. I'm a resident, and I only knew of two of the places you mentioned. The next time you come back, may I recommend Hell's Kitchen or , if you want to grab breakfast or lunch Tuesday through Friday, Hell's Cafeteria?