I've worked at a kennel just north of Austin for nearly three years now, and saying goodbye to dogs that become friends is a sad part of an otherwise great job. But a Great Pyrenees named Chief became special to me and my co-workers at DogBoy's Dog Ranch.
Scroll down to the story "Chief Retires at DogBoy's" for a picture and brief bio.
Unfortunately, though we knew Chief wouldn't have long with us, the dreaded day arrived yesterday. Chief let us know it was time, as dogs always do. Mentally he was as sharp as ever--even at 10 years old--but his body just couldn't go on. Chief's final farewell--a dozen adults gathered around with not a dry eye in the house as he left for the vet for the last time--inspired me to write the eulogy below the moment I got home. I wanted to share it with the Kos community because I wanted to honor Chief's life with the many animal lovers here.
In the ancient British Isles, when a chief died, he was sent off in style. At a burial site in southern England known as Sutton Hoo, a Celtic chieftain was buried in his ship with his finest weapons, armor and treasure. On the island of Iona, Scotland, kings arrived by boat and were taken down a special road (still maintained today) to the Rheilig Odhrain—literally, the City of the Dead—on their final journey, sent off with love and ceremony as family and followers said their final farewells.
The DogBoy’s family said goodbye to its Chief on July 3. He had been our neighbor for many years, guarding the livestock of the ranch next door with dedication and dignity. This spring, we convinced Chief’s owner that it was time for him to retire, and we were pleased to make DogBoy’s his retirement home. Many customers read Chief’s story in the spring Poop Sheet and he acquired quite the fan club, with people taking time to say hello to him and give him a pat on his head.
We knew then we wouldn’t have a great deal of time left, and we gave him all the love and spoiling we could. Whether walking up to the office staff on the days he felt up to moving around to ask for a neck scratch with those soulful brown eyes of his or keeping a watchful eye on the people and dogs coming and going from the kennel, he lived his twilight days with the same dignity he’d lived his working life. Chief instantly became a friend, and more than a friend, to everyone at DogBoy’s.
And now he’s gone, and it doesn’t seem fair. Even when your beloved pet lets you know there aren’t many days left, it always seems too soon when the day finally comes. And on that fateful Thursday, Chief let us know it was time. None of us wanted this day to come, as inevitable as we knew it would be. Chief even waited until most of us could come to him and say our final goodbyes.
Sandra’s car was his boat, and his last trip was to the caring hands at White Rock Veterinary Hospital rather than a sacred island. But he was sent off with all the honor and love a chief could ever ask for.
Farewell, Chief.