Bart, Mabel Lou's brother from other pawrents, passed away on 10/2/20. We recently learned Bart was 15!!! We found that someone else had him for two years before he lived with the neighbors for 3 and the bestie has had him for 10!
About three years into this, I invited the bestie to dinner. She arrived. She was sad. Bart had been taken to a farm. There was a look of sheer horror on my face. She tried to reassure me. "He can run and roam and play.." More horror. "There are other animals... WHAT?? Why are you making a face?"
Knowing my friend was first generation American and not familiar with the lies people tell their children, I exclaimed, "That's what parents tell their kids when they're getting rid of their dogs!!!"
"No...it's a lovely farm..."
"NO! BART'S IN JAIL!!!"
I ran down the hall to my office and pulled up the website for the local pound... and THERE HE WAS! I screamed! The bestie came running in and saw him on the screen. "NO! What time to they close?"
I looked on the website as she looked at her watch. "Right now! I cried."
She made a plan to be there when they opened. The question she most laughed at was his name...they encouraged her to change it! "No...his name is BART!"
She was actually concerned that Bart would go "home" at sunset as he had every night for three years. But, it turns out, he was just going home to eat! Once there was food at the bestie's house, there was no need to go to the place where he ate. Bart had chosen his Mom and his home and was just waiting for a good meal! Poor baby!
It wasn't long before I would pick him up most days when Mabel Lou and I hiked. They became siblings. Mabel was much bigger than Bart and would pick on him mercilessly. There were times I wondered why he even got in the car with us...she was just awful to him. But, when any member of the larger dog pack tried the same, OH NO! Mabel was not having it! Bart was hers and hers alone. She could pick on him, abuse him, take the best sticks and toys but NO ONE else better dare to do that to Bart. And Bart seemed to understand this sisterly love long before I did.
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My favorite funny Bart story was the time there were the big dogs running around that we didn't know. Bart and found a dead rabbit and I'm certain he didn't want Mabel to have it. But he really didn't want those dogs to take it! As I was leaping through the tall grass, trying to leash up Mabel and find Bart, I hear the owner of the two dogs shout, "There's a dead dog over here!"
Terrified either one of them had gotten hurt, I ran over and found Bart, playing dead! On top of his dead rabbit!
It's so sad to me as Mabel's pack members die off. It's like I still get to see parts of her when I see them! But Barticus Farticus (stinkiest dog farts efur!!!), you were so loved! I know you and Mabel Lou are running a river in Heaven.
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8 comments:
We're so sorry to hear that Bart has gone to the Bridge. That sure is quite a story as to how he became a permanent member of your besties home. Good thing she told you about him going to a "farm" so you could break him out of jail.
We do remember Bart and all his adventures with Mabel. Soft woos and gentle hugs to his family - he found a good one when he landed with your bestie.
Woos - Lightning, Misty, and Timber
Oh Bart! I remembers! You sure did have a good last part of your life, I am glads you and Mabel were such BFFFFf's ~ it warms my heart! and the 'playing dead on the wabbit' was FABulous!! Good thinkin'!
Sendin' lots of loves and {{{hugs}}} to all that loved your stinky ☺ heart here on terra firma.
Kisses,
Ruby ♥
we send lots of potp over to you and our tears are running with yours for Bart... hugs to you... BIG hugs..
What a wonderful and touching story. I'm so sad he died! Why do creatures that are better than we pass away decades earlier than we do?
...What a horrible fate would have awaited him had you not realized where he had really been taken.
I read this post and know I commented, but I don't see that comment. I do see that you posted it two months ago. I hope you're well.
I read this and thought I commented, but I see no comment, so I can but send you belated sympathy upon your loss. I had hoped you were back in Blogland to stay, and am wondering what happened. I wish you well, and hope you'll return.
Hey, where did you go? I thought you were back to stay.
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