: do not give in to evil but proceed ever more boldly against it :

Mishack

The first thing you have to understand about Mishack is that he is tough as mierda. Mishack (God rest his soul) is our recently deceased dog. He was a large, white, German Shepherd who due to health problems finally had to be put down. Three weeks ago my folks called me to let me know that Mishack’s hip dysplasia had gotten so bad that he could not raise himself up. I was pretty heartbroken and shed a tear or two.

That dog was a good friend, and that night I went out my folks’ place to say my goodbyes and pay my grateful respects for all the loyalty and protection he’d given our family. When I arrived, I headed out to the backyard expecting to see a rickety bag of cripple yelp laying in the corner. Instead, a big animal came bounding toward me, pushing a ball with its snout. Mishack? It was. And he want to play. We played together for 10 minutes, running around, barking (him, not me), etc. I went back inside the house. Before I had a chance to express my skepticism about Mishack’s dying moment, my folks said, “Isn’t it just a shame the pain he’s in? He’ll be going to a much better place.” I said, “Umm, Doctors’ Kevorkian, you’d better come have a look at this before you write him off.” They went out back and we’re shocked at the sight.

I think Mishack must’ve picked up on the vibe they were transmitting and was determined to show us that he was still a spring chick.

In any case, after that evening my folks’ decided to give Mishack some more time. For the next three weeks he had good days and bad days, and finally ran himself into the ground, until he was totally unable to move.

They put him down while I was in Minnesota on a trip. Before they put him to sleep they pampered him, gave him his favorite food, played with his toys, brushed him out, recorded his bark and the way he could speak “I love you” (”Ri-ruv-roo”). And then my dad drove him to the vet and a short time later it was done.

They told me two days later in an email. They knew I’d be upset, and I was.

But later, on reflection, I was ao glad I got to have that night three weeks ago, when I went to say goodbye to my dog forever and give him one last hug, and he looked me in the eye and said, “Let’s have a go just one more time, for old times sake.”

RIP.

July 19, 2005 | Filed Under Misc 

comments

2 Responses to “Mishack”

  1. Porter on July 25th, 2005

    might I add my two bits? I nearly cried out loud after reading this. Everyone failed to mention (except Drex) that Mishak (Mee-Shack) had been put down. That right out sucks. I don’t really have much else to say. He was one helluva dog for sure, and one of the coolest dogs ever. What a shame he was built on a Ford chassis instead of a Toyota. RIP Mish, RIP.

  2. McKane on July 27th, 2005

    I too nearly cried after reading this. I grew up with Mishak. He is, undoubtedly, the most well-traided and most loyal animal I’ve eever seen. He was a family member. Sad. RIP.