A Letter to an Old Friend

by John Flores

About 2 years ago, Priceless Pet Rescue took a chance on a senior beagle named, Wally. He was left in a night time drop box and he had a laundry list of medical problems. He was given months to live and he turned it into just about 2 years…2 of the best years of my life. At 6:10pm on, February 24^th, 2016, the dog we know as Wallelujah took his last breath and crossed over to the other side. I came home that night and wrote him this letter so he had something to read on his journey over the rainbow bridge…

Dear Wally,

I remember the first day you came to my house. You had already been at the rescue for a few months and Kathleen had asked me to take you in because it was looking like you had “a few days” to live so it was a no brainer to take you in to give you place to spend your last days. I had no idea those last days would last almost 2 years.

In the past 6 months I found myself carrying you around more than usual. Sometimes you would fall in your own poop which was ok. I had no problems cleaning up after you. I knew your bones were achy in the morning so if you needed me to carry you outside it was more of a pleasure than an inconvenience. You had lost your hearing and you had only one good eye but you still always had your appetite and bossed everyone around the house. Every time I felt like you were feeling under the weather I would just put you in your wagon and you would perk right up. Your howl could make the saddest person smile.

I miss you so much right now. You have no idea. I always had this vision in my head that I would plan the day this would happen so I could invite everyone over that loved you to spend time with you and give you whatever you wanted to eat. Then I would have you cross over to the other side in the comfort of your own bed.

But now that I think about it, we gave you a party. It was just disguised as a pet expo. So many people came to see you and love on you. Had people known you only had a few days left on this Earth they would have been sad but nobody knew and everyone was so happy to see you! Even Kathleen was there and had it not been for her phone call asking me to take you, you may have never ended up in our house! I know you weren’t feeling your greatest but you still gave your signature howls.

And we gave you whatever you wanted to eat in your last days. Uncle Terry took you around the pet expo and later told me he gave you just “a little bit” of his burger but I know him better than that and I wouldn’t be surprised if he bought you your own!

And then yesterday, the day was so nice I decided to take you out with your 2 best friends, Penny and Elvis, to chase the ball around. You howled, tried to bite the chuck it and even had enough energy to chase the ball one time which was more than you had tried to do for quite some time. It took me back to a time when it was just the 4 of us. Maybe had I known that today was going to be your last day with me I would not have enjoyed all those last moments with you.

But today…after all the times you gave me reasons for you to stay on this Earth. You finally gave me a reason to let you go. You no longer wanted your bully stick. Your breathing was slow and heavy but you were hanging in there. I caught Snack Pak giving you kisses but I think he was just wishing you well on your new journey. You still had enough energy to snap at Betty as she stole your bully stick (which I now see as a passing of the torch) but the look you gave me told me everything. And if I couldn’t honor your last wish, what kind of best friend would I be to you. I promised you would leave this world with some dignity and that’s exactly what I gave you even if it meant losing you.

I took my time on the way to the vet because I knew this would be my last car ride with you. I played happy songs and even though you couldn’t hear them I knew you could feel them. I told you we were going for a ride to see Bri and that’s exactly what we did. And even though we couldn’t send you to the other side on your bed where you ruled the house, we got to do it in the next best place…your wagon. I held your paw the whole time and sent you positive thoughts up until you took your last breath.

I would’ve carried you around for the rest of my life if it meant you would live forever and I would’ve wiped your poopy butt as many times as it took if it meant I could hear your howl every day…but what kind of life is that to live for a man as dignified as you… I’m hoping all this is just a dream and I wake up tomorrow and you’re right there in the kitchen digging in the trash.

The ride home was long and lonely. I must’ve pulled over at least 3 times to wipe the tears away. It’s been an honor to share your twilight years with you, my friend. And if I had a chance to do it all over again I would do it in a heartbeat.

We gave you a few months to live and you gave us about 16 more. If that’s not the definition of selfless, I don’t know what is. Life just isn’t going to be the same. You got to witness the first kiss between Bri and myself. You were there when we found out Bri was pregnant. You were a part of so much change in my life in the short time you were with me. You’ve been there for a good majority of our fosters and you were such a great foster brother. You were the only dog I never got mad at. The rules never applied to you and that was more than ok with me. You have no idea how much I’m going to miss hauling you around in your wagon. Thursday’s at Bri’s house are going to seem empty without hearing your paws stomp around the house and having Fawn and Chuck play with you like you’re gonna chase them around the house. You know, your mom lived kind of far. I’m going to miss seeing your face in my rear view mirror on those rides there. Your sister Penny is actually laying on your bed as I write this and Elvis hasn’t moved from the couch. I knew this day was going to come but I didn’t think it would be today but it’s not like there was actually day when this would be ok. The only thing keeping me from crying is thinking back to all the times you made me laugh and smile.

You’ve definitely earned your wings and where you’re going you won’t be needing your wagon. And know that you left quite a mark on this world. So many people adopted a senior dog because of YOU! You also became quite the “pit bull” advocate…all by just being Wally.

I’m sure you’re running across the rainbow bridge as I’m writing this. Say hi to Zelda and Bella for me. I’m sure they can’t wait to see you.

I’m not sad you left, I’m sad we couldn’t go with you. Out of all the dogs in the house, it was you that I thought I was the most prepared for to send to the other side. Well, my friend, I was not prepared at all. I know you’re in a better place but I’m not. But if taking on this pain means it takes away yours, I would do it every time. We will see you again but the rest of your pack needs me and there’s still a ton of work to do down here.

By the way, I don’t know if you knew this but your breath was horrible and no matter how much we washed you, you always had this “Wally smell” that only a parent (or a dog/pig) could handle. Well, it’s slowly beginning to disappear. And the cleaner the house smells the more I miss you. Oh, the things I would give up to have that smell back in the house…

I love you, Wally.

Love,

Everyone

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John Flores

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