The Ovaskas: "Bucky's an Angel"

As we returned to our hotel after the first Mayo appointments on February 15th, our cell phone rang. It was from Maria, the dogsitter. She and her sisters have watched our dogs while we are out of town for a few years now. The minute I saw it was from her...I knew! Bucky was gone!

He was almost 13 years old and had been having more and more troubles in the last year. He had found more "spots" to curl up outside. He had fallen in the kitchen just because someone had walked by. He wasn't able to see much. He had been waking us up at night panting and pacing for months. He was just old. At his last vet appointment, we talked about what this stage of life might be like for him and how to cope.

It was so terrible for all of us, especially because we were10 hours away in Arizona. After Eric and I cried outside the hotel door (while the kids watched cartoons), we told the kids. Maddie and Elise burst into tears. Then, they wanted to go home. After a lot of hugging and crying, we snuggled up on the hotel bed and decided he was "safe" and that we would stick together until Eric's tests were done. Elise sang songs to let her emotions out, Maddie snuggled close for extra hugs, and Gus just kept saying, "Bucky died."

When we returned to Los Alamos, the kids decorated the patio door with dog pictures and messages, Eric put a bunch of Bucky photos on the digital picture frame, and many lovely people gave gifts. Our house is still not the same and I miss his soft, soft ears and gentle spirit. He was Eric's first dog and he has been the most sad.

The good that has come is that Chaco has become extra special with lots of attention from everyone. Maddie especially has been good to Chaco lately. Gus still just says, "Bucky died." And Elise has reminded us all that it's okay, "Bucky's an angel" in heaven with Grandma Jeanne and Grandpa Arvo. We'll see him someday.