We lost a friend last week. The kind with a cool nose and wagging tail. Our family said goodbye to our friend, Angus (Gus), our 13-year-old Cairn Terrier.
Way back when, our first terrier Fiona, had a litter of three pups. One went to a Leland family; another went to my sister and niece; and we kept the runt of the litter, Gus.
I remember my husband holding the runt on his chest, talking softly and calmly to the puppy, who also had a heart murmur.
Oddly, it was the runt who was longest lived in the litter.
The Leland puppy, who I believe was named Seamus, died after being struck by a car.
The second pup, Finn, began with my oldest sister and was later adopted by my adult niece. Finn died shockingly early of a mysterious illness, leaving Gus the lone survivor.
He spent days on the farm entertained by 4-wheel “runs” up the hill with his fellow canines, Fiona and Ruby.
A couple stories come to mind about our scruffy buddy.
Several years ago, daughter Grace met my son’s girlfriend, Hannah, who later became my daughter-in-law.
That year, we were raising several baby chicks and plunged into the world of ducks. If you’ve never owned a duck, you’re missing out. There’s truth to the phrase “sitting duck ” … So cute waddling around the yard.
All went well with our farmyard birds until the normally mild-mannered Gus went on the offense.
Grace and Hannah bonded through mayhem when our the terrier pup terrorized the feathered flock, killing several.
Years ago, Gus was our Radar from M*A*S* H*, warning us of bicycles and motorcycles well before they turned the corner or came down the biggest hill on Hohnke Road.
The hills and corner make our neighborhood optimal for bike races and tours. Given the popularity of the route, Gus kept himself busy monitoring the territory.
And on occasion, he would run out into the road, nearly causing an accident.
Naughty boy. The same naughty pooch wasn’t afraid to investigate any varmints lurking around the property.
One year, around Thanksgiving, my daughter and a friend from college, were faced with Gus, who had a close encounter with a porcupine.
Rather than contact our vet on a holiday weekend, we decided to remove the quills ourselves.
Ouch!
After his mother passed, it wasn’t long before Gus’ interest in bicycles and 4-wheeler runs began to dissipate.
The last several months, he turned the corner to become a geriatric canine. We had hoped to spend one last fall with him.
However, his poor health took over, necessitating a trip to see our vet Dr. Jerry Harrison.
For the first time in many years, we are a one-dog family.
Thank you for the memories, Gus.
