Rut and Kita Winter 2009 |
This morning I let Kita and Sparky outside and started cleaning the house. I heard a ruckus out on the back porch - something I had not heard in a long time.
the scratching of claws on the deck floor
the low rumblings of growls amongst heavy panting
patio furniture being pushed around and tipped over....
I immediately thought of Rutroe and ran to the back door - Sparky and Kita were playing...wrestling and play biting. It was a joy to watch! Sparky would dash off the deck to the backyard with Kita in hot pursuit. Back on the deck they would return knocking into patio furniture like a bowling ball taking out pins.
They noticed me standing there and Kita ran up to me-wearing her famous doggie smile. I realized I had not seen that smile in a long time. Sparky barked once and Kita turned and buried his face in her mouth and off they ran again. She paused and looked back at me and something in her eyes clicked. She made a mad dash for the back fence with Sparky twenty feet behind desperately trying to catch up.
I figured play time was over....Kita jumps the fence everyday to roam the neighborhood. When she does this Sparky whines and barks because he is alone in the big back yard....Rutroe is no longer there.
But I was wrong....
She raced back with something in her mouth-a worn out, filthy rope toy that looked like it had been through World War II. She eagerly laid it at my feet and looked up at me imploringly.
It was Rutroe's throw toy. She and Rut had spent hours chasing this toy once we threw it and then playing a serious game of tug-of-war after they had retrieved it. Sparky would circle the two dogs barking madly trying so hard to get into the game but realizing he was out sized. Many times the game turned nasty and we would have to break up what we thought was a fight. However after the game was played all three dogs would cozy up laying on the grass in the sun panting and looking so pleased with the world.
I picked up the toy hesitantly and she barked twice encouragingly. I tossed it a couple of feet and off she went. She snagged it and looking like a NFL running back she started running in random directions dodging an invisible tackler. She tossed the toy up into the air and caught it then hunkered down on the ground with her tail up in the air DARING someone to take the toy from her. Sparky joined him playing his supportive role with all the jumping, spinning and barking he could muster.
They finally made their way back to me and laid the toy on the ground. I threw it harder this time and was rewarded with 5 minutes of pure doggie entertainment.
'Throw it again mom!!" I could read the desire in their eyes. So I threw it again - over and over.
Finally the end came - as it always did.
Nakita and Sparky started slowing down - their enthusiasm was spent. They trotted off to lay in the shade under their favorite tree. Kita dropped the toy to the ground and flopped down. Sparky collapsed next to her and leaned into her side. Panting they looked around the yard and up at the sky. Kita glanced down at the toy. She picked it up and gently tossed it a couple inches to the spot where Rut would have laid. Content, she laid her head on the ground and sighed. Tears came to my eyes and as I reached up to wipe them I caught a glimpse of Rutroe with his head laying on the toy - looking at Kita and Sparky.
awww ... how precious ... our pets do give us another slant on life ... one we would have missed without them ... treasure the memories
ReplyDeletethanks I will and I noticed your name....I had a very beloved dog named Fritz :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful story! We do miss our babies when they're gone, but oh the wonderful memories they leave behind. Our Doozer ate some of Billy's rags while I was out of town last month and I thought, often, of your Rutroe. We got lucky. Enjoy those memories. I got a tear in my eye just reading yours.
ReplyDeleteI'm catching up on your blogs....I sure miss that big lug. He always brought a smile to my face when he came in. I sure do miss him!!!
ReplyDeleteLOL thanks I miss him too...I am working on another story regarding him, the lake and a shock collar ;)
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