Goodbye Artu

Tonight was one of the hardest nights we've had in a long time as Artu has left our family. My bud, my companion, my friend, my office mate and the member of the family who was always happy to see me. As I sit here and write my thoughts down, I still can't believe he's gone.

I was on my way home from Indianapolis after a meeting around mid-afternoon when Donna called me concerned about Artu. She said that he was having trouble walking and was just laying on the floor. When I had left this morning at 6:00, he had followed me downstairs as he always does to say goodbye, I had scratched his head and told him to take care of all my girls. He wagged his tail and watched me drive away. So, I had a hard time believing that something was wrong when I talked to Donna. As the afternoon progressed, it became apparent to Donna that Artu was feeling worse and worse. She took him to our regular vet who told us that his anemia levels were really low so Donna took him to the emergency vet. I met Donna at the vet where the doctor told as that Artu was bleeding internally, most likely from a tumor that burst on his spleen or liver. The doctor calmly told us that there was a very high chance that it was cancer and given his age.....and we knew what was coming. I had promised him that I would not put him through another surgery like we did 3 years ago and we felt that it was best for him to make the decision we dreaded. I've done my share of hard things so far in my life but making the decision to put him down and spending his last few minutes together and watching him fade away, well....that was one of the hardest things I've done and will remain imprinted in my brain.

Artu was my first dog and before him, I never understood how people became so attached to their dogs. I learned quickly after he came home with us that I was heading down that path. Over the past 5+ years, he truly was a part of our family. Everyone feels that they have the best dog but I couldn't have asked for a better one. He was everything I thought having a dog would be and than seeing how awesome he was with Charlotte, Gwyneth and Lillian just brought constantly smiles to my face.

Now, this is the same dog who I never wanted in the first place. Growing up I never had a dog and when we bought our house in Bartlett, it was a condition of mine that we get a dog. Two weeks after moving in, we headed to the Boxer Rescue to find the Burritts a boxer. I told the rescue that my one requirement was that I didn't want the dog that they had pictures of on their website, the one who had one eye and just looked a bit odd. When the rescue brought out boxer after boxer to see which ones may be a best fit, especially the one that jumped so high that his butt hit me in the chest, I was wondering if maybe the boxer breed was the wrong decision. They wanted to show me one last dog, and they brought out this boxer who ran two huge laps around their yard and than came sat down waiting to be pet. And yes, that dog that I said I didn't want the one who just looked up at me, was Artu, the one eyed dog from the website. Since than, he followed me all around, we took daily morning walks and he was my all around pal.

Artu loved us all unconditionally. He wagged his little nub when we showed him even the smallest amount of attention. He never complained. He did what we asked and what he was told to do. I hope he knew that he impacted all of our lives in such a positive way. We might have said our final goodbye to Artu but he will be with us every day in our hearts.

We've used this blog to use as our personal diary and update friends and family on the ongoings of our life. This time, I used this as much to let you know about Artu but also so I could put my thoughts (maybe ramblings) down on paper.

Thanks Artu, you were all and more a family could have asked for. We have pictures and videos of you from the times it was just us three, to the times you showed such excitement when we brought babies home for the first time.

I love you buddy......we all do!