Golden Bond Rescue of Oregon

Crossed the Rainbow Bridge January 6, 2012

My beautiful, gentle boy Cody, #1901, died yesterday of complications from hemangiosarcoma.  He was peaceful and calm at the end, as he died in my arms.  Knowing this would be the end result when he was diagnosed 2 months ago, I still allowed my heart to hope that there would be a different outcome.  Cody certainly gave it his all and rallied time and again, until finally, he could no longer come back.

I'd like to share some of my fondest memories of Cody:

With his face contorted from nerve damage and ridiculously shaved by the people who turned him in to the rescue organization where I volunteer, my first thought was "you are one of the weirdest looking dogs I have ever seen-- I'm only supposed to foster you until a permanent home comes along and jeez, I'm gonna be stuck with you forever".  Well, truer words were never spoken:  I was stuck with Cody and my life has been profoundly enriched because of it.  He (and I think everyone else that saw us together) knew long before I did that Cody already had found his forever home with me and Sadie.  From the first moment he hopped into the car, he was at ease.  We drove the 4 hours back home that first day with Cody's head resting on my shoulder-- and every car ride since was the same.  I became very good at driving with one hand while reaching up to my shoulder to scratch his ears with the other.

My friend and neighbor, Bruce Paige and I were driving to Texas (because I didn't want to fly the dogs commercially) when I purchased my camper van a couple years ago.  We had stopped in a rural area in New Mexico to walk the dogs.  It was a remote gravel road flanked with horse pastures and Cody and Sadie were running off lead, rolling in the snow and enjoying not being cooped up in a small car.  Cody and Sadie had tip-toed over a 6 foot wide cattle guard when they spied some horses.  I was concerned that they would try and get into the pasture, so turned around and started running in the other direction, calling the dogs.  Sadie edged around the cattle guard and Cody remained  a few moments longer.  Finally he turned and ran full tilt towards me.  At the point that he reached the cattle guard, in a split second my mind registered that he wasn't slowing down and was very likely going to catch a limb between the thick metal grating. I hollered "stop" and was trying to figure out how I'd find a veterinarian to set what was obviously going to be at least one broken leg.  Cody lifted off as if he had wings and cleared those six feet of cattle guard with the most elegant glide I have ever seen!  He trotted up to me with his lopsided little grin, clearly pleased with himself.

Sadie was about 2 when Cody came into our lives.  I could not wear her out with walks, swimming or playing fetch, though I tried daily.  From the absolute beginning, Cody and Sadie were best friends and equally matched in energy.  There is a long (30 foot) carpeted sun porch in our home where the dogs loved to play (think aisle at a bowling alley).  Cody and Sadie would play tug-o-war with various toys and it was almost daily that Cody would lie upside down on his back, with a tug toy in his mouth.  Sadie would grab the other end, and drag him, upside down, the entire length of the room.

I have so many wonderful memories of my time with Cody.  Although we only had 2-1/2 short years together, they were packed with more fun and adventures than any of us could have hoped for.  In time, this heartache will lessen, and only the good memories will remain.  Thank you to all of my friends and family for their support during this difficult time, and to the skilled and compassionate veterinarians and their staff that have given such wonderful care to an old, dear friend with a lopsided grin.

Barb