Lessons: A True Friend!

Riley and Taz -Dec 1999

It has been 4 days since our sweet Taz passed away. I had an idea that it would be hard when his passing came, but I really didn't fathom it completely. Taz came to live with us as a puppy back in November of 1999. What a cute little ball of fur. He was mostly black, back then, with white patches here and there. The very first night we had him, I thought for sure he would cry all night. Nope, he hopped right in his bed, and slept till morning. He was potty trained in days and was always ready to greet people who came to visit.

Bear Lake 2008

 When he passed we were visiting friends in St. George. We usually took him with us when we traveled. He loved to ride in the car. He hadn't been feeling well, and for a second, we thought about leaving him home.

Grandma would come and check on him often,

but he would be by himself.

We took a vote and decided to take him.

After all he is part of our family.

I stayed home from church on Sunday and kept him close, patting him and talking to him. Telling him how much we love him and telling him it will be okay. He was such a sweet dog. He didn't eat at all on Sunday and drank very little. We had planned to take him to the vet, first thing in the morning. 

2009

I put him in bed, and told him to be a good boy and that I would see him in the morning. The next morning my darlinest got up before me, and went to check on Taz. He was gone. When my darlin' came in to tell me, we both cried and cried. He said, "I asked Heavenly Father to take him in my prayers last night." And I said, "Well, I asked Him to help Taz feel better." We both laughed a little, and my sweetheart said, "Well, He answered both our prayers then. Taz is gone and he is feeling better."

The lesson is this, when we take a chance and love something or even someone, we know that someday they may/will leave. It won't hurt when they leave, if we don't love them so much.  We have loved this little furry friend for almost 11 years. He has been such a blessing in our lives. He has followed me around the house and yard for 11 years. I couldn't even go to the bathroom without him wanting to come in with me.

2009

He was always the first and sometimes the only one to greet me when I came home. His little tail would wag so hard his whole bottom end would wiggle. I knew I was his whole world. Now that we're back home, I miss him more than ever.

 He was always here. He would sit by me on the couch. He would somehow get a hold of and chew on my quilts, only later would we discover his expensive chew toys. He would bark when people came to visit. Now the doorbell rings and nothing. ouch!

The thing is, I would never trade all the years of love and happiness with our little friend Taz, for not feeling lonesome and sad for him now. He has been such a blessing in our lives and we wouldn't trade a second of it.