Blue

Today has not been a great day. This morning, our veterinarian called to tell me, that Blue was dying from kidney failure, and he had very little time left. He recommended euthanasia.

Tony and I rescued Blue back in 1998, when his owner had called Kinky, to tell him that we needed to rescue his dog, because he was fixin’ to shoot him, because the man was scared Blue might get run over! Total nonsense.

Tony and I drove over to Kinky’s, from Utopia, and picked up Blue in our old pickup. Blue was so happy, sitting between us as we drove home, and that was when I decided to tell Tony that I wanted Blue to be my dog, because I had always wanted a Blue Heeler. And, Tony had no problem with that, but Blue did.

Within three days, Blue had nothing to do with me at all—he was Tony’s dog! From then on every morning, Tony and Blue went to town together to drink coffee with the old timers. They were partners.

Blue and Tony were the best of friends, and I used to joke about having to ask Tony to make Blue get out of my chair, etc., because Blue had selective hearing, and anything that I had to say—just didn’t count. I mean, he wouldn’t come to me, go outside for me—nothing—Tony was his boss!

One time in Utopia, Tony phoned me around seven o’clock in the morning. “Nance,” Tony said, with people in the background laughing. “Could you come up here and unlock the truck for me? Blue has locked me out of the truck.”

I drove to town, and handed Tony the other set of keys for the truck, and then Tony told me the rest of the story. A pickup had pulled up to the store carrying about five large dogs in the back of the truck. The dogs spotted Blue sitting inside our truck, and began barking at him. So Blue, trying to act tough began barking back and he accidentally pushed the locks down. And, Tony never lived that one down in Utopia.

There is also a story about Blue in my book, too. He’s the one who jumped up on Jo West’s brand new Lincoln, and slid across the hood—hitting the windshield—just to welcome her to the rescue ranch! Blue was also in a Kinky for gov commercial, when the camera crew came inside the trailer and shot Kinky playing with our dogs and then fades out on Blue. You can watch that commercial on youtube.goodshepherd. There are many more stories about old Blue’s escapades, that I could write a book about him.

Three weeks ago, Blue’s health started going downhill. He was nearly blind, and we were treating him for liver and kidney failure. Back then, our veterinarian told us that he would try to buy a little more time for Blue, but the end would be near. Blue recovered for a few weeks, and then his health started declining, again. So last Thursday, Tony took Blue in to see if there was anything else to do for his old friend.

Today, when Tony came inside, after doing his chores with John, I told Tony the sad news. Tony called our veterinarian back to discuss Blue’s condition. Tony cried after the phone call.

At 1:15, after saying goodbye to Blue, and telling him what a great dog he had been, and while Tony petted Blue, the vet injected the lethal dosage and Blue was gone.

In honor of Tony and Blue I have written this poem for them. And,these are two of my favorite pictures, that I took of Blue a few years back.

The Best Friend Tony Ever Had

Tony had a dog and his name was Blue,
Tony rescued Blue, and they were good buddies, too.
Blue always came a runnin’ when Tony called his name,
And, Blue never came a runnin’ when I called his name.

Today, Tony cried, ‘Here Blue! Oh, where are you?’
He cried, ‘Goodbye Blue! You know I’ll miss you, too.’
And Tony cried, ‘You were the best dog that I’ve ever had,
I loved you, Blue.’

Blue
1997-2008
R.I. P.
Goodbye Blue.
He loved you, and so did I.