A Very Good Dog
Someone once said “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole,” and that is so very true. Here is a love letter to our sweet rescue dog Dixie.
Oh my friends. Here comes the post that I never wanted to write, even though over the past weeks it was becoming more and more clear that the time was drawing near.
Over the past several days our family has cried our way through more boxes of tissues, because that sweet face up there is gone from our home…but since she is always going to be part of our hearts, and because she was such a big part of this blog from its very first days, I wanted to share not only our grief, but even more-so the joy she gave us and others.
Back up almost 14 years ago…my sweet daughter had wanted a dog for AGES, and when we decided to make the leap, we started looking around for a rescue dog.
We thought we would adopt an young adult dog that was already housebroken, until we found a picture of three little puppies on the website for a shelter called Aunt Mary’s Doghouse.
We got in touch with the amazing Mary Cody, and drove out to the shelter to meet the puppies. They were tiny little bundles of wriggling happiness who had been left on the side of the road somewhere in South Carolina, sick and injured, and Mary took them in and nursed them back to health.
It was an especially tough road for the smallest puppy, but that puppy had a determined personality and by the time we got to the shelter, she was full of pep and used that energy to jump right into my daughter’s lap.
Mary asked us all kinds of questions to make sure we were the right family, and happily that sassy little puppy ended up coming home with us and making herself right at home on the living room couch.
We named her Dixie, which seemed to fit right into our family’s Southern background – and hers!
And as if all that wasn’t exciting enough, my sweet daughter was invited to write a book about adopting a rescue dog…which she did!
The book is called A HOME FOR DIXIE, and was illustrated with photographs by the reknowned photographer Bob Carey, and my daughter and Dixie got to go everywhere from the Today Show to schools and libraries and bookstores full of kids eager to hear about adopting a puppy.
Dixie had the time of her life.
Back at home over the years, Dixie did what all good dogs do. She patrolled the kitchen whenever I was cooking in case anything miraculously leapt out of the pan and onto the floor.
She was in the middle of everything from the Southern daughter’s graduation from grade school, to her high school proms, to her wedding celebration last year (even though she was not invited to the reception, for noisy barking reasons).
Dixie and the Southern husband were two peas in a pod.
Let’s just say he took that motto on his tee shirt very seriously.
Over the years Dixie worked her way into so many hearts, with her irrepressible love of life and that hound dog face.
She was a smart cookie who was always up for learning a new trick – roll over, sit pretty and shake paws were her greatest hits.
She never did learn not to barrel into whomever was at the front door though – she was just beside herself with excitement at the prospect of anyone and everyone who came to visit.
And speaking of visiting, she loved that too. “Want to go in the car?” was one of her favorite things to hear, and she adored everyone from the folks at the vet to her groomers.
One of her very last visits was with my mama. Even though at this point she was not feeling her best, she still showered her dog grandma with happy dog smiles (and got some peanut butter crackers in return).
And speaking of dog love, the word “snouting” was popular in our house, because if you stopped petting her, that hound dog nose would bump your arm until she got the scrubbies she loved.
But most of all – more than peanut butter, more than car rides, more than anything – Dixie loved her people.
I will remember forever the snuggly feeling of taking a nap with my feet tucked under a blanket of curled up Dixie.
I will remember forever the comfort of crying into her fur during hard times.
I will remember forever the hilarity of watching her race around the living room with the zoomies, throwing her bedraggled toys in the air in a burst of unbridled dog joy.
She fell asleep for the last time this week, cradled in my arms, finishing one last cookie, completely delighted to be at the vet with some of her favorite people.
Her tail wagged until her eyes closed, and I could feel her melt gently into my lap, dreaming of the days she could leap illegally onto the bed, or dig into her favorite cup of dog ice cream, or happily tackle whomever was at the front door.
Dixie was, as all good dogs are, the gold standard of optimism, forgiveness and unconditional, overwhelming love, and our whole family is blessed to have shared more than 13 years with our good girl.
There are not enough words on earth to thank Mary Cody, our superhero vet staff at Montvale Animal Hospital, Dixie’s best friends at Best Friends, and everyone else (Dennis! She adored you!) who made this abandoned little puppy into a joyous bundle of exuberant dog love.
I’ll end this love letter by sharing one of my all time favorite pictures of our girl.
I’m scritching her behind the ears, and she is a blurry whirlwind of dog happiness, and that is how she will live in my heart and mind forever.
And whenever you run across her picture on some of the hundreds of recipe posts on this site, I hope she brings a smile to your face too. She would have loved that.
Tearfully, gratefully yours,
Dixie’s mama
Kate: I am so sorry that you lost Dixie!
My heart is with you!
What kind of dog was she?
Thanks Charlie. She was (we think, because she was a rescue and we’ll never be totally sure) a redbone coonhound. But mostly she was really, really good dog.
Thank you for sharing a very joyful Saturday morning cry.
These are from one of my favorite books, “Dog Songs” by Mary Oliver.“
And it is exceedingly short, his galloping life. Dogs die so soon. I have my stories of that grief, no doubt many of you do also. It is almost a failure of will, a failure of love, to let them grow old—or so it feels. We would do anything to keep them with us, and to keep them young. The one gift we cannot give.”
― Mary Oliver, Dog Songs
This one may be my favorite:
“I had to go away for a few days so I called the kennel and made an appointment. I guess Bear overheard the conversation. “Love and company,” said Bear, “are the adornments that change everything. I know they’ll be nice to me, but I’ll be sad, sad, sad.” And pitifully he wrung his paws. I cancelled the trip.”
― Mary Oliver, Dog Songs
I know right now are “sad, sad, sad.” I share your sorrow along with your joy.
Oh Sarah. This helped me so much. Thank you. <3
Sarah ,
I will have to look for this book as those passages ring so true.
Kate,
my sympathy. Dixie loved and was well loved by her family. May the happy memories replace the grieving memories in time. I need that t-shirt your husband is wearing. Is a home for Dixie still in print? I love to collect children’s books . Thanks for all you do, I love your blog and look forward to your recipes and slice of home life. Please take care and stay safe.
Colleen, thank you so much for these sweet words! And yes, Dixie’s book is still in print – here’s a link if you need it: https://amzn.to/3gDzEQT You and yours stay safe and sound too. :)
As you might imagine, I sobbed all the way through this. I’m so sorry for your loss. Dogs are family and it looks like Dixie was one lucky pup. My heart breaks for all of you. Sending hugs and Doggy love from my beasts. Xo
Thanks Kim – sending those hugs back. xo
I cried through the entire post. God bless you and your family during this time of loss.
Thank you so much Cynthia – I am so grateful.
Kate, this brought tears to my eyes and I’m so sorry to hear about Dixie. I know how hard it is to lose such a special member of the family. She will always live in your heart and that special love will never die. May the Lord bless and comfort you and your family.
That she will..thank you and xoxo.
I am so sorry for your loss. Dixie was lucky to have picked you all as her family. Despite the grief that comes with losing a beloved dog, life would just not be complete without that unconditional love that dogs give so freely. Dixie will be missed here on your blog, but never forgotten. Condolences to you and your family.
Thank you so much – and you are so right that she will be in my heart forever.
I have loved and lost many dogs during my 71 years., it never gets any easier. Each one had their own delightful personalities and touched my heart in so many ways. Such unconditional love is impossible to come by except in the heart of a dog. Always keep saving and loving these precious souls, Dixie would want that ❤️
Thank you Bonnie – and yes she would. xo
I am so sorry. Prayers for healing.
Thank you so much. I’m grateful.
Awww, So sorry! So hard… you have wonderful memories of her I’m sure to comfort you.
I do, so many! We were so lucky to have her.
I’m crying with you, and for the loss of this precious member of your family. At the same time, I am happy to know that Dixie had a great life with a family who truly loved her and treasured every minute with her.
Thank you for sharing the perfect tribute to Dixie.
Thanks Paula – she was a great girl, and we were so lucky.
A lovely tribute to your beloved Dixie. The tears are the price we pay for the love of a good pet. <3
They definitely are – and she was worth every one of them. xox
Oh man, I’m so sorry for your loss! It’s so hard saying goodbye to our furbabies. Dixie knew how much she was loved by her humans and was so lucky to be blessed with a lifetime for hugs and kisses.
Thanks Cathy – and we were so blessed to have her for so long.
Well I am a blubbering teary mess right now after that. I know well the joys and pain of loving and losing a furry family member. Our hearts hurt forever from that loss but…the heart always seems to make room for another dog’s love. So very sorry for your loss, Kate. Hugs to all of you.
Thank you my friend. I knew it was going to be hard, but there is such a hole in my heart right now. Thanks for those hugs.
Dixie sounds like the best dog ever. I bet she’s getting lots of treats in doggie heaven.
She was, and I think so too. Thank you my friend.
So sorry for your loss!! I lost one of my fur babies in February. Hugs!
Oh Terri, I am so sorry. They are so precious – hugs back to you.