We don't deserve dogs, yet they accept and adore us. Then they leave, always far too soon.
Tribune columnist Rex Huppke's dog, Zoe. (Rex Huppke / Chicago Tribune)
By REX HUPPKE
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
JUL 06, 2020 AT 9:08 AM
If I had to choose between spending time with one good dog or five good people, I’d pick the dog every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
That may sound anti-social, but it’s a pragmatic choice, driven by data.
People, even the good ones, have more flaws than dogs. People, even the good ones, struggle to love without conditions. And dogs, at least the ones I’ve known, talk less than humans while managing to say more.
We bipedal ape-descendants don’t deserve dogs, yet they accept and adore us. Then they leave, always far too soon. And we are stuck with our dumb human flaws, and a dog-sized hole in our day-to-day.
I had to say farewell to a good dog last week, on a pantingly hot July 3 afternoon. She had cancer and there was nothing we could do these past couple months except love her and spoil her and give her approximately a million behind-the-ear scritches and wait until she let us know it was time to go.
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-Laelth
How lucky we are that we get to have them in our lives, yet always too briefly. Sending you hugs 
I know your words well.
I miss my crew every day, many empty corners of the home.
I am sorry for your great loss.
If nothing else, their departure reminds us that life is fleeting and that we must embrace every moment.
And, like any loved one, we are there to hold them as they pass-- the alternative would be sadder still, that we would pass to leave them alone.
To anyone who has lost their friend, I'm crying with you, please hold dear your friend's gifts to you over those years.
They wouldn't have it any other way.
This coming Sunday is gonna be rough.
I'm spiritual but not religious. Energy cannot be destroyed, it endures, bad or good our souls, our energy, are lasting.
I would like to share something remarkable thing that happened on January 4, when Cooper passed at the clinic where we spent a few hours in a very thoughtful series of steps that lead to our farewell, my wife and I, too him.
It was afternoon when we took Cooper for his last ride, and dark by the time we left.
My wife has two sons from a former marriage, both adults now, but 5 years since she heard from the older son, who is mildly Asberger and socially different. It has always broken her heart that they can't connect.
We left the clinic and we were 4 or 5 blocks out on our way home when her phone rang.
You can probably guess at this point who was calling.
We both, later that evening, agreed that Cooper had pulled a string or two, he somehow had a paw in this.
After 19 years of dating, we were married on February 22. A small party of under 30 but both sons were there.
- from Will Rogers.
Good on ya for spoiling Zoe.
Oh, and another one from Joey, the 17 year old Jack Russell terrier who is helping me write this.
I know that pain.
When you're ready, open yourself to that joyous love again.
Been there.
It's so hard.
That rotten cancer took her away far too soon.
