Baruch and Bob
Posted on 11/25/2006 12:35:01 AM PST by Bobibutu
Baruch / Rookie,
Some of the Bay Area Freepers met and knew him ...
His spirit left this world at 10:20AM November 24, 2006 – peacefully, without a struggle - in my arms – staring, as usual, into my eyes.
The dysplasia and various other ailments we battled over the years finally took their collective toll when Degenerative Myelopathy (similar to MS in humans and no cure) left his rear legs paralyzed and useless. It was sudden. The eve of Thanksgiving he sat down and was unable to fully rise ever again.
I had tunnel vision for over eight years focused on hip dysplasia diagnosed at 2yrs. Baruch had such heart that he kept the Degenerative Myelopathy hidden from me and his vets until Thanksgiving eve. I thought it was his hips finally giving out after 8 1/2 years of continuous therapy and had started a new therapy as a last ditch effort that day to avoid surgery while the day before had discussed with an Orthopedic vet in the area about getting together in 2 weeks to evaluate Rookie for a hip replacement. His vets and I fully expected him to at least make it to 11 yrs. And possibly longer.
He was kept warm, hydrated and catherized. He was in no pain.
Thanksgiving day was spent with my telling him how thankful I was for his companionship over the past 10 years and how I adored and loved him. I recounted my memories of our adventures and discoveries over the past 10 short years to him.
From his Ambassadorship of Service Dogs – traveling nationwide educating others with his amazing behavior to going places a dog had never gone before – deep into a Minuteman Missile Silo Complex; the top of the St. Louis Arch; The Lincoln Memorial and many, many more – to just having fun- swimming in 4 of the 5 Great Lakes; the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; the Gulf and countless lakes, rivers and bays across this great country. Hiking the Appalachian Trail or back to a hot spring deep in the Oregon forest.
Many who had met him only once were profoundly touched by this noble dog. He visited nursing homes, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, airports and had taken 457 commercial flights in the passenger cabin at my feet – except on one small airplane where he laid in the isle with his head resting in the pilots cabin (that was the only place with room for him) – the pilot jokingly announcing to everyone that this was his first time to have a dog watch him fly.
He was a joy to be with and to be around.
I learned much from him. The most important best expressed 2000 years ago by Aristotle.
“All men seek one goal, success or happiness. The only way to achieve true success is to express yourself completely in service to society.”
As my personal Service Dog he empowered me through and beyond my limitations. He loved to “work”. So much so that I began to share his versatility and uniqueness with others. The culmination of this sharing was a few weeks ago while serving as a volunteer at Laguna Honda Hospital (hiding his physical discomforts from everyone) he interacted with well over 100 residents one-by-one in 3 dementia wards – teasing smiles, animation and floods of questions out of most. It was quite an exceptional afternoon.
His vet and I discussed possible options before making the decision of euthanasia. He simply stated in that he had helped remove and carry Rookie from my car to the stretcher that he need no more proof that he was paralyzed and would not argue against euthanasia if that was what I asked for. A doggie wheelchair would be an option for a much smaller dog. However, at well over 100 lbs. it was not a practical one for Baruch with all criteria considered. He then performed a gentle exam – Rookie still had reflex action in his rear legs but no feeling and no ability of movement beyond the simple reflex.
Rookie rolled his upper body to me for his German Shepherd Dog chest and tummy patting – his lower body limp to one side. I obliged him – he moaned in his usual ecstasy whenever I demonstrate my affection for him in this way.
We spent quality time – there was no time table set by his vet.
It is strange now to be alone after spending 24/7 with all but a few weeks out of the past 10 + years with him.
Baruch is Hebrew for Blessing. I have and now again count mine over and over for having the opportunity of caring for and being cared for by this magnificent animal.
His body will be cremated. His ashes saved to be mixed with mine when I pass on.
A memorial service will be held in Oakland.
Baruch – April 15, 1996 – November 24, 2006
email enroute with pix/files
I'm very sorry for the loss of your friend and companion.
Oh, I am so sorry for your loss of Baruch. What a wonderful friend you had.
Hi Tas.. I hadn't been to your profile page. yet...wow.. It rocks.. love the graphics!
do you have a pet? pix?
I KNOW IT ISN"T THE REDNECK PUP!
"The disposition of noble dogs is to be gentle with people they know and the opposite with those they don't know...How, then, can the dog be anything other than a lover of learning since it defines what's its own and what's alien."
- Plato
I am so sorry for your loss. What a wonderful life you 2 had together - may your memories sustain you.
We were together for 16 years. I think of him every day, as will you of your Rookie, likely for the rest of your life.
Let us both hope that we will be reunited with our wonderful pets in the Hereafter.
My condolences on your loss. I lost 3 old ones over several years, all friends I spent much time with, they were family members. I know I will see them again, but I miss them terribly every day. Words cannot help, so I won't try. Just know many of us know how you feel.
susie
I am so sad for you yet envious at the same time. You were there for Baruch and he knew it. My Bear was all alone.
You were blessed to have him. He was blessed to have you.
I'm so very sorry for the loss of your best friend and companion.
I lost my best friend, Soda, a little over a year ago to the same disease. A little over a month later she and God decided that I needed another "best friend" and they sent Rex to live with me. He's helped ease my grief and, while not replacing Soda, has filled the emptiness in my heart.
I hope Baruch helps you find another companion soon - believe me, he'll have a paw in the decision....LOL
Take care, my FReeper friend.
"You were blessed to have him. He was blessed to have you."
Your post brought up an old memory - one of the kindest and humbling statements one of his vets said to me was that if reincarnation was a fact she wanted to come back as a dog and have me as her human.
He ate better and had better health care than most humans.
What he provided me with was priceless. I spared no expense on his needs. They always came before mine.
"The disposition of noble dogs is to be gentle with people they know and the opposite with those they don't know...How, then, can the dog be anything other than a lover of learning since it defines what's its own and what's alien."
- Plato
Thank you - Baruch was special in many ways - one of few dogs suitable for cross training in Personal Protection and Handicap Service - and he was and he knew what was appropriate and when. A powerhouse when delivering his bite to the sleave on command - could take a 250lb man to the ground in seconds - young children could do anything to him and sometimes did - he would respond with licks. We backed off the bite work when his hip started bothering him. He was an awesome animal to watch, interact, or just hang out with.
So sorry to hear of your loss...I am in my 60s....I grew up from a small child, in a household full of cats and dogs...I carried on that tradition with my own boys....there was no sound or sight in the whole world that was any better than hearing and seeing my two boys, burst through the back door, with their cats and dogs trailing right alongside of them...by my age, you can tell, I have had so many fine and furry family members, that filled my life for many years, and then passed on...
They are all gone now, each one special, each one remembered fondly, each one mourned...
Its so very hard, when one of these wonderful beings leaves us...their lives are generally so short in relation to our own lives...yet in their short lives, they give us so much love, that when they pass on, we can hardly stand it...we love them so very much, and they loved us...
I am so sorry that you have lost such a fine friend and family member....I will think of you and say a prayer for you...
I am so, so sorry. Thinking of you.
A beautiful dog.
SemperFi
Thank you - thank you.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.