Oliver goes to doggie heaven ~ 1-27-11

We had Oliver since December '01. I went to my Dad's house for Christmas. A friend of my Dad's found him but was unable to keep him. I called Michael, who was at his parents, on Christmas Eve, I believe. I told him that Oliver was great; he didn't bark, was really loving, and was potty trained. The first part was mostly correct although being around Bishop he learned how to bark, but it was pitiful. And he was the most loving dog and like to snuggle. The latter of being potty trained was a trick. Having two male dogs wasn't the best idea.

He was a great dog all in all. I understand why he was found on the side of the road. EVERY TIME the door opened he would run out it. Eventually he figured out that he had it better with us than on the street. Perhaps if we stopped chasing after him he would have decided to come home on his own a lot sooner.

The last few months Oliver lost a lot of weight, which was not unusal since both he and Bishop didn't eat as much in the winter and tended to loose weight. But this time he got worse and didn't recover. A night or two before he died he sat in my lap and enjoyed some couch time.

When I came home from school I saw him in his cage out on the back patio. I didn't think much about it. Looking back, Bishop didn't scratch on the door to want in. Turns out he knew what was going on and was sitting in the bed with Oliver.

I got in touch with Michael and told him Oliver had passed. I was able to put Cameron and Braydon to bed without them knowing what was going on. I wasn't prepared for what to tell them. Once Michael was home we found a great place in the backyard - where the squirrels like to run around.

The next few days were the roughest. Cameron had never experienced anyone dying so to tell him what happened and answer the continuous questions and comments about why Oliver wasn;t with us and where he was, was most difficult.

Here's a picture of Oliver and Bishop in 2008 shortly after we moved into our house. I wish I would have taken one before Oliver passed, but here's a favorite of my boys.

I can only hope Oliver had a great life.