Learning Life Lessons from the Most Unexpected Teacher

This past summer was, arguably, the worst summer of my life (thus far). It was harder than the summer between 8th and 9th grade when my parents ripped me from my comfortable life in Edmonton and dragged me to the friendless wasteland of Winnipeg, where I spent that first summer having migraine sized headaches and threatening to run away. Worst still than the summer I had my heart broken by a man I loved (come to think of it, I’ve had a couple of summer heartbreaks like that).

But this past summer was, by far, the worst one.

This was the summer I had to say good bye forever to the one who has had the biggest part of my heart for the last 15.5 years. I had to euthanize my dog, a Maltese named Beau.

Beau and I met quite by chance. He was born to the dogs that were owned by the couple I was renting a room from during my second year of University. I got to meet him when he was 2 weeks old, as he was born while I was away on Christmas vacation. He was this little white puppy no bigger than a guinea pig, he'd come stumbling over and I'd pick him up and he'd fall asleep in the crook of my arm. That's when I fell in love. Being a student it wasn't my intention to own a dog, it wasn't practical; however, being 19 generally means that practicality gives way to desire and that's how Beau became the love of my life.

Beau was a great dog. We had our problems and our fights and yes, both tears and blood were shed but still and all, he was awesome.

In retrospect I learned a lot from him, he helped me grow.

He taught me the true meaning of…

Unconditional Love:
Beau would always comfort me when I cried; he'd come and try to lick my tears. There were times when I would yell at him for doing something bad, he would shy away for a minute or two then he’d forgive me for being angry and would bring me a toy and ask me to play with him. I wish I could comfort others so whole-heartedly and be as quick to forgive and forget.

Tolerance:
Beau was adaptable; he lived at ten different addresses in four different cities, in three different provinces and as long as he had one or two constants (either me or my parents and his toys), he was happy. I wish I was more adaptable like Beau.

Determination & Tenacity:
Beau was a fighter; not in the sense that he was an attack dog, though he did try and take on other dogs and he barked at skateboarders and really tall men in hats (don't ask me why) but he was a fighter because with all his medical problems over the years (a bad heart and bouts of pancreatitis and two episodes of having a pinched disk in his neck) he still carried on trying to be the Beau he had been for all those years. He just kept keeping on - I should have such strength.

Resourcefulness:
Beau knew how to amuse himself. He’d often disappear off and find a toy and I would hear him in another room playing by himself, tossing his toy and barking at it. He was also good at getting out of collars and out from behind barricades – he was a canine Houdini. I should be so well able to entertain myself and get myself out of entanglements.

Bravery & Acceptance:
Less than two months before he died Beau got very sick and was diagnosed as being in renal failure; his kidneys were failing. He spent three days a week in the vet clinic on IV fluids during the day and coming home with me in the evenings. Though it all he still remained the gentlest of souls; he freely got into his carrier in the morning as if knowing the needles and incarceration was meant to be of benefit to him. I should be as stalwart in the face of illness.

And Ultimately, Strength & Compassion:
This wasn’t as much a trait that Beau exhibited as much as it was something he taught me to have; for the day came when I had to make the decision to end his suffering. I had been telling people for weeks that there was no way I could actually ask the vet to euthanize Beau, part of me felt it would be like taking a life; but the day came when the sadness I thought I saw in his eyes and the limpness of his spirit made me feel that I was being selfish with all the poking and prodding and almost daily vet visits and the decision had to be made. I hope it was the compassionate thing to do and it was what Beau wanted.

Since his diagnosis of renal failure and subsequent death, I have looked back over his life and wished I had spent more time with him. Not been too lazy to bother or so quick to push him away when it wasn’t convenient for me to have him being playful or affectionate. This is the last lesson he has taught me – the importance of freely loving those that you love and not taking them for granted.