SAYING GOODBYE

Last Wednesday, June 20, 2018, our little Pug, Ms. Pickles, had to be put down due to complications from a routine teeth cleaning.  This came as a complete shock to both myself and Tiago and we’re learning to navigate our way without our little girl.

Even though we still have four dogs, there are dogs and then their are “dogs”.  Pickles was in the latter category.  She was a force unto herself and when she came into our lives back on December 10, 2010, we had no idea what we were getting into.

Tiago and I moved from Seattle to the Methow Valley on Halloween day 2010.  We moved into a house in Carlton and slowly began to fashion a life for ourselves.  My cousin, Marie, told us about a Pug that needed a good home.  Apparently, this Pug was a real terror; she was an alpha and couldn’t get along with other dogs and the owner couldn’t keep her.  We said we’d take her and drove over to Omak to meet the guy that had her.  

This is the first picture we took of Ms. Pickles on the ride home after picking her up.  She immediately fell asleep on my lap.  Tiago and I were a little taken aback by how noisy she was.  Pugs are a brachycephalic, short-nosed breed, and often have breathing problems.  Pickles had more problems than most since her face was far more “flat” than most Pugs.  That first night we couldn’t sleep because of all the noise she made.  Gradually, we became unaware of how noisy she was and we settled into life with a Pug – Pug owners will know what we mean.

Pickles was an extremely smart dog.  She was also very stubborn as well as demanding.  You couldn’t sit down without her demanding to be right next to you, or on you, you had to simply give in and let her do what she wanted.

Ms. Pickles was with us for 7 1/2 years, the entire time we’ve lived in the Methow.  She was with us when we moved from Carlton to Edelweiss and lived there for three years and she was with us when we bought our house in Winthrop and moved in the late summer of 2014.  

There was a rhythm to our life.  Get up, let the dogs out to go potty, go to work, come home and enjoy our time with the menagerie, go to bed, repeat.  Our our fur-kids, but especially Pickles, had to be right next to her humans AT ALL TIMES. 

Pickles was always a grump getting up in the mornings and often had to be taken out of her kennel to to potty.  

Often times, the first thing she would do is drink some water.

Ms. Pickles was a very affectionate dog; she gave us so much love and we loved her in return.  I’m thankful that for the years she was in our lives we did our best to give her a good home.  

We were fortunate enough to both be there when Ms. Pickles left us, but it was one the hardest days of our lives.  Ms. Pickles, wherever you are, thank you for being a part of my life; you brought me so much happiness and joy that I wouldn’t trade anything for and I will always love you.  XOXO