Nugget. We will miss you.
Brandy
When I was young and staying with my wonderful aunt, she had a dog named Brandy. This was the first dog that I would love. He wasn’t my dog, but I loved him like only a little boy could. Move into a New York apartment where pets aren’t allowed, and you have a boy wanting nothing more than just to have a dog to recapture that love and friendship I got from Brandy.
Fast forward 20 years.
Thank you to my friend Corinna. With her gentle nudging and visits of her wonderful dog Bailey, my mother is convinced that we should get a dog now that the lease will allow us to. Off to North Shore Animal League to adopt my first dog.
Nugget as a puppy
There are many puppies in cages in the very hectic puppy room and I’m having trouble getting the attendants there to give me time with a puppy to see how they act. Then they bring out a puppy that is a bit bigger and older than the other dogs (he had ringworm and stayed in the shelter an extra month). He hits his head on the cage when he gets in and gives a bark to his neighbor. I know I have to check out this puppy.
So I’m on the side getting to know this little dog. There are a few other people in my area getting acquainted with their potential pets, and their puppies are calmly sitting there and being petted. This dog I have is bouncing around and trying to run and jump and nibble on my gold class ring I was wearing.
I like this dog. He is the one.
Checkout time and a ton of paperwork that NSAL requires. Interviews, reference checks, and I think a CAT scan was required of my brain at one point. Very thorough place (and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a dog. Adopt and save a life!)
“What is his name?” the girl filling the papers asks me as I hold the puppy in my arms. “I don’t know yet. I don’t know him well enough to name him yet.” is my response. She tells me she needs a name for the papers. I look down at this hound in my arms who looks up at me and brings these huge over-sized ears forward. “Ears is his name…for now.”
In the car on the way home, the puppy is nibbling on my ring, belt buckle and back and forth between them. My mother suggests “Maybe we should call him Nugget since he likes gold and is gold colored.” His new name becomes Nugget and a friendship is formed that will last. How much will it last through? A quick rundown:
Nugget being happy as usual
- 14 years
- 2 families
- 3 children
- 1 granddaughter
- 3 other family dogs
- 4 States
- 500 miles
- 2 chewed up kitchen linoleums
- 3 chewed up living room carpets
- 2 chewed coffee tables
- 2 ACL replacement surgeries
- 3 lump removal surgeries
- 2 teeth extracted
- countless treats
- countless hugs
- endless love
- way too many nights woken up to let him out at 4 AM
- way too many knocked over kitchen garbage pails scavenged through
- and about $50,000 worth of paper towels and carpet cleaner to clean up after him. (Stupid dog!)
Today my best friend fell victim to liver failure. He was hurting and not enjoying his days. Today he is at peace and there are many people in this family and his friends who knew him that are hurting and not enjoying their day, but we will be alright, because now he is alright.
We miss you Nugget
I miss you Nugget.
Love Anthony
If you were lucky enough to know Nugget, or just feel like posting, please leave a comment. The well wishes do help.