Truman
For those of you who know and love Hairy Truman, I want to you know that he scampered over the rainbow bridge this morning.
He’s a regular at the beauty salon, often appearing in group shots. He wore funny hats for us, bright jackets, and sometimes goggles.
Truman loved walks, playing fetch, going to the groomer, and getting treats. He hated squirrels. Hated those little suckers.
It was great that in his last year, we gave him a toy that played back; his own little boy.
Last month they waited for treats on my kitchen floor with the same expression on their faces.
Bubba and I will miss that sweet puppy something fierce.
I hope your Memorial Day weekend is fun and safe. I’ll be back on Tuesday unless the spirit moves me.
And please feel free to share a story about your dog.
Give ’em hell, Hairy.
1Cherish the memories.
Debbo-if you haven’t seen this,this is hilarious. I’m guessing Greta Garbo might like it,too.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/13/hamster-tiki-party_n_7278078.html
2Aww, RIP Truman. Probably the smartest dog in America. I mean he picked Bubba and Juanita Jean as his family.
Hope he’s chasing balls with my Barky Boy right now.
Condolences, JJ and Bubba.
3My vision of heaven:
1. A good night sleep
2. All the frozen margaritas I can drink
3. My kindle powered up forever and with free downloads
4. All My friends and family
5. All my dogs young and healthy
… and you can guess what order these really should be in. Piggy, Twinkie, Goober, Jake, Piggy and Sweatpea are saying howdy dee doo to Hairy Truman.
Cause ALL dogs go to heaven
4I am so sorry. That’s a dark day.
5Those darling doggies are like your children and losing one is so very painful. My heart goes out to you and Bubba. My 14 year old beagle/foxhound mix, Dudley, is such a big part of my life that I really don’t know what I will do when he is gone. If I make it to heaven, he’d better be there.
6Nate..the 110 pound lapdog..Pitty Bull Dog..he was brought home as a puppy to a home with full grown cats..who were then..much much bigger than him..they kicked his ass on a daily basis..when it thundered he ran on the bed and hid behind them..(at 110 pounds )..he loved everyone..never growled once the entire time I had him…and protected my granddaughters with his life..when all 4 of them were at my tiny house he was frantic trying to keep them safe..too many doors to guard..the are all in the living room ‘camping’ and they called me to come there..they said ‘Nate won’t let us move’..he had finally figured out the way to guard them all..he herded them like cattle in the corner of the room and would butt them back into the corner if they tried to leave..I finally had to put him outside..I had signs all over the yard ‘beware of the dog’ not because he was dangerous but because he was so big and happy to see anyone that showed up he would run and jump on them and knock them down and then lick them to death. a police man came to the house to ask about the house of ‘spanish’ people next door and Nate pinned him to the house barking in joy to have someone new to play with..of course the man was scared out of his wits..Nate standing up was as tall as he was and was barking like crazy right in his face..the cop pulled out his badge screaming I’m a cop I’m a cop..I said don’t tell me..tell Nate..then I said Nate..down and he ran off and got his favorite toy the white wall off of a tire he had chewed off and wanted the guy to play with him..I think he cried..Nate crossed the rainbow by running to greet a big ole Chevy truck..broke my heart.
7So sorry for your loss. I’m looking forward to seeing Gizmo, Pookie, Muffin, Sandy, Princess, Duke (1 & 2) Lycka, Pepper, Simon, Sasha (not yet), and Flicka (still here) when Janice and I cross. It won’t be heaven without them.
8I am sorry for your loss. We just put Otto down after a long happy life. May I suggest that a good way to honor our four legged friends who added so much good to our lives, is to make a donation to a local recuse organization.
9I saw my girl Daphne (aka Daffy because she was), sitting leaning against the tire of a car along the street where I live taking in the sun on April 21 many years ago. A puppy about a couple months old, dressed in an infant’s turtle neck sweatshirt. I stopped and parked my car, got out and walked up to her, bent down, picked her up and asked her who she belonged to. She just smiled. From that day to 15 years later she gave me so much joy and love. So smart and loving to all, even the old Mamma Kitty who would have absolutely nothing to do with her and let her know that my lap and bed were completely off limits. When Mamma went to the Rainbow Bridge, Daphne took over the forbidden territory and shared it with my male cats, Nigel and Wellington. When she grew into her dotage I watched with sore heart as the grey hairs appeared and she became less active. When the day came that I knew it was time I was lucky to have a Vet who came to the house. It was a horrible day that I try hard not to relive. The pain and loss never go away. I look for her whenever I am on the road, talk to her as if she was right there in the back seat. I cry as I write this and feel your pain.
10Sorry for your loss. As a pet mama,I’ve had to say a final goodbye to more then a few. Never easy,and it hurts. Sending you hugs to help you through.
11I still tear up everytime I hear “Who Are You… Who who, who – who….” (ala the CSI theme song). My Mexican street dog, Dulce, dropped at my feet last fall from congestive heart failure, about 2 months after my Mom had succumbed to the same thing, and we had put down our 16 1/2 year old Shih Tzu, Chewbaca Dos a couple of weeks prior. We were just a mess for days. Lot of loss at once.
Dulce had many wonderful tricks and traits, but my favorite was when he could be in a state of extremely heavy slumber, hear the “Who Are You” song, would sit up, throw his head back and howl his lungs out. That usually set off the canine alarm system, aka “The Shih Tzu Chorus”. Chewie would sing soprano, Dulce howled with glee… and we would sing along, laughing until tears ran down our faces. It was a hoot! Such a silly thing that happened every week when CSI came on TV. Hell…. we’d deliberately watch that show, just to get to watch Dulce perform his magic with the theme song. He loved that song…. and if it came on the radio while flying down the road, he’d sit up and howl then, too. No prompting, encouraging him to do so… that was just his thing. I never taught him to do that, and I doubt I will ever be able to hear that song without wanting to cry. I miss Dulce terribly…even though we are back to a 3 Dog Night… a new Shih Tzu and a Schnoodle – Standard Poodle/Schnauzer – have joined our beloved Lhasa who was completely lost as an only fur baby… but so far, there is no chorus. Of course, that particular CSI, the original, is in it’s last season soon, too. Passing of an era.
So sorry for your family’s loss. Hug.
12Awww. (My only pet ever was a pair of goldfish, so I can’t properly commiserate.)
13I am sorry. I know how much it hurts to lose a furry friend. They wrap themselves so completely around your heart, and take a little of it with them when they go. My thoughts are with you.
14I am so so sorry for your heartbreak. Our dogs make it so easy to love them, but they make it so hard for us when they have to go.
15I didn’t know Hairy Truman, of course, but I still extend my sympathy for the loss of your canine companion. It’s hard to lose our pets.
16So sorry to hear of your loss. Losing our fur kids always hurts. But, to me anyway, the pleasure of their company is worth the pain of losing them. So run free at the bridge Hairy. Your Mama and Daddy miss you but you’ll see them again someday. I’ve got 4, so far, waiting for me at the Bridge. So Hairy, say hello to Arriba, Wiley, Buckwheat and Blitza for me. They’re 4 big, goofy, loving retired racers. Arriba and Blitza raced and did well. Wiley and Buckwheat never made it to the track. Wiley was only 11 months old when I got him. He was 95 lbs of big, goofy puppy at 1st. But Arriba played momma dog to him and ruled with a velvet paw even though she only weighed a tad over half what he did. Buckwheat and Blitza were littermates but I got them about several years apart as she raced and he didn’t. I’m looking for another retired or otherwise available Greyhound to adopt but since I live out here in BFE SW MO they’re hard to find. I’d have adopted more dogs by now if I still lived in Houston. Unfortunately, I don’t.
Hugs, Diane
17After reading everyone else’s posts, I can truly say that I weep with you. Because there are never adequate words. I’ll ask Maggie, Murdock, Lucy, Gracie, Bandit and Buddy to find Hairy and show him the ropes!
18If not for the pain of Mondays,how many Saturday nights would any of us have?
19Great video epo, thanks. I love tiny hamsters, but their lives are so short. 3 years at best. Sigh.
20I’m so sorry about Hairy. I can literally say I know how you feel, though….about 4 hours ago we had to let our little schnauzer doggy go. We’d had her for 12 years. Many tears at my house tonight.
21Shadow was half Newfoundland, half Labrador, and blacker than the Ace of Spades. Mother’s house had been robbed, and the entire family decided she needed a dog. Mom’s reaction: Yes, as long as it’s not a BLACK dog. Well, Shadow had been the watchdog for a social club a few blocks from my present home, trained every night for the first few months by an NYPD cop who had trained dogs for the army during Vietnam. The social club was gone, its owner and his wife broke up, it was wife’s apartment and husband’s dog. He became roommate to a friend of mine. Shadow was perfectly willing to befriend the cat; the cat was unwilling. Shadow was temporarily housed in Brooklyn (with over a dozen cats!). I made the match, and elder sister and brother-in-law picked me up in Manhattan for the drive to Brooklyn. Shadow stole Mom’s heart, and was her faithful companion for the rest of his life. Truman, say hi to Shadow for us.
22Puddles, Snookie, Abby, Peaches, Foxy and Punkin are all gone now, but not forgotten. Each one brought a lot of joy and laughter to our home. Puddles was the chaotic puppy who loved to hunt for the tennis ball only in rooms with the lights on; forget her going into the darkened bedroom and fetching the ball out from under the bed in the dark! Later on, Puddles was the mischievous one who tested our limits but always with the best attitude of just trying to see what she could get away with. Meanwhile, Snookie quietly followed her cheeky leader, never instigating, but always faithfully keeping up. Abby was trouble from the get-go. Peaches was the shepherd mix with great manners who patrolled the house at night, making sure we were all safely tucked in. I can’t tell you how frightening it is to awaken to a large snout not two inches from your own face, nose-to-nose, silently smelling you, totally quiet, before moving on to her bed and “standing down” to rest herself, once she knew all of her family members were safe in our own beds. Foxy, a lost/rescued Corgi, would hide his face under the sofa to get away from thunder, while the rest of him stuck out in the room; he also slept on his back, snoring, with his little legs all splayed out. Punkin, another Corgi who had been kept outside her first 2 years before her rescue and our adoption, was “rain and thunder phobic”, so she ran madly around our backyard in the rain, jumping straight up on her little back legs, frantically trying to catch the raindrops in her mouth.
I miss them all. They were our furry children. It’s so hard to say good-bye. We try to remember to celebrate their short lives and get over the heartbreak of our losses.
My heart goes out to you, Susan, and all who loved your little Truman and are so very sad today.
23There must be a HUGE hole in your chest where your heart was….he was too precious for words. When the grieving time is past you, and you will know when that is, please look at a special website yorkiehavenrescue.com. Many kind people in quite a few states are fostering furr kids in the ‘too darn’d cute’ category. I suspect your next heart wrecker is waiting there….
24So sorry Susan.
25I recently lost my very old and crabby cat… But every once in a while I’ll swear he’s still glowering at our obnoxious Springer Spaniel from the top of the stairs.
Take of yourself and Bubba.
the story of ruby…a true dog story from vietnam
my good friend and fellow vietnam veteran mac dorsey sent me this story of a dog that adopted them in vietnam.
http://www.vietvet.org/ruby.htm
bill
26If not for the “fur kids” in my family….. my house would be cleaner…. I’d have a lot more money…. but….. my heart would be empty. Trina and Truble are not pets… they are family.
We will all miss Truman JJ.
Condolences to his family.
27I’m so sorry for your loss. May memories of Hairy always give you joy.
28Could talk about the cats we love, six gone over the years and four still here — three of them a rescued mom and her boys — but that would take up a lot of space, especially Morgan. (Phone call from neighbor we don’t know: “Could you come get your cat off our bed?” Tempted to say, “Did we open your door and let him in? How is this our problem?”)
Hope you and everyone you care about are okay, JJ, in all the flooding rain Texas is getting. All that “pray for rain” guff from Perry came in a few years late and all at once. Best wishes from Maryland.
29My deepest sympathies to your and your family on Truman’s passing. I know he brought daily smiles and joy to your life, and you did the same for him. Dogs are very special like that.
Since you asked, my childhood dog was a retriever-huskey mix named Nugget. He was truly my best friend and protector (President Truman was right). I lost him when I was entering high school, but he left me with many great memories.
May Truman’s memories continue to bring you joy.
30This brought actual tears to my eyes. I’m so sorry for your loss. Truman was one cool dog. Knowing his mama as I do, I know he learned it at home.
The dogs at daCasa – Marshall (named for Thurgood) JJay- (Named for John Jay) Mikey (named for his rescuer’s brother) and Jack Shiht (a Jack Russell Shih Tzu) – all had a nice howl in his honor. I’m still in the doghouse for leading it.
Love to you all.
Chip
31We have rescued and loved Tertullian (Tully), Sampson (Sam), Indiana Jones (named before we got him but very appropriate), Princess, and Diamond. Devil rescued us when Diamond followed the wrong crowd and got killed on the highway. Devil, also appropriately named, is the Hubs best buddy and hunting partner. When his turn comes he will likely leap over the Rainbow Bridge into the water and swim to the other side.
RIP Hairy T. How wonderful that you loved and were loved in return.
32I am sorry for your loss. It is never easy. I have always loved your name for him – Harry Truman – Awesome.
We have lost many special babies over the years.
Our last survivor, Taz is now 14 and can hardly walk. He lost his girlfriend Pokee a few months ago. They were both rescues. He also hates squirrels and still barks at them! We call him the Squirrel Squelcher.
Time heals all wounds, but we never forget.
33RIP, Hairy T.
34So sorry for your loss. RIP, Truman! When you meet Cleo keep your distance – her claws are vicious, as the cable man found out. “Don’t go near the white cat!” “Cats love me”, he said as he walked over and reached out to pet her. And promptly yanked back a shredded arm. Isis and Mocha are okay with dogs, though. Especially when they’re larger than the dog!
35Thank you for giving dear Truman a name any dog would be proud of. He had a wonderful life, and that’s what we’re here for.
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