Today we say good-bye to a furry member of the "bovinebubbles" household. After 12+ years of canine companionship, Cody our faithful guard dog, dishwasher pre rinse, furball maker, drool machine and most of my my best friend, was allowed to quietly go to rest in the shade of a quiet maple tree just on the other side of the rainbow bridge.
Life with Cody has not always been smooth. When Brett and I first decided that I would come to live in Prince Albert, Cody was not so receptive. He did not adapt well to a change is the bachelor lifestyle that he and his master had been so accustomed to. There were hours of growling, snarling, howling and generally "pissyness" until he finally just looked up at me one day, licked my face and said gave me the look as to say "ok, lets give this a try. If it doesn't work, You will be the one to go."
Days and weeks turned into years and Brett's dog quickly became my dog. We went for long walks, and car rides and spent many an hour just checking out things around the farm. He was a great listener, a wonderful co-pilot and better then any blanket to warm cold toes.
He was my dog. Always affectionate, always no more then two steps behind. On constant guard. He would sit at my feet, sleep on my side of the bed and should a stranger be in the yard, he would be sure to put himself between me and the person, Just in case.
When lil miss bovine came on the scene, he then took on the role of protector of "that thing mom brought home". I remember one night when Baylee was about 6 months old and a string of breakins had occured around our "neighbourhood". It was about 2:30 am and Cody started to bark from his couch in the living room. I quickly got up to see a van pulling into our yard. I woke Brett up and as he scrambled to get dressed to head outside, I quickly called the police. In the midst of all this commocion, Cody casually made his way to Baylee's crib side and laid there contstantly on guard until I went in, stroked his head and said "Ok boy, shift is over...you can go to bed. He then got up and made his way back to his couch and drifted off to sleep.
He wasn't overly affectionate towards Baylee. Often acting as if he was only "putting up" with the thing mom brought home just like he did the cats, but occasionally if no one was looking, he would quickly swoop in for a "dance" a zig and a zag, and a quick kiss and off he would go again.
The last year or so his age really caught up with him. Most of his days were spent snoozing on his "bed", in his dog house or on a warm spot on the floor in the family room. His hearing was slowly going and his once super sharp vison was not what it used to be. He would still try to do what he effortlessly had done all these years before but his walks with me became shorter to almost non existant as his hips and legs ached badly.
Monday I chose to take a wee walk though the bush on our land. I strapped on my snowshoes and off I went. The day was quiet and calm. The suns rays were warm as I trudged along the path. I noticed fresh tracks in the snow and was trying to decifer as to what they were. Coyote? Fox? Dog? no to big for any of those.....Wolf I thought? No, couldnt be. I had began to scare myself to the point of turning back when I had this strange feeling I was being followed. I turned and coming down the path full tilt behind me was dog. I shook my fist and gave him shit for scaring the beejesus out of me. He picked up the pace and blasted past me and for a moment he was young again. He waited for me at the bend in the path and we continued our journey at a slower pace, enjoying every moment.
This was our last walk together.
This morning I said my goodbyes to Cody. I hugged him tight, buried my face in his thick coat and began to tell him that I loved him, that I would miss him everyday and taking walks would not ever be the same. I looked him in his big droopy brown eyes and thanked him for the chance to be a part of his life, for being his friend, for protecting me 100%. I apologized for all the times I complained about drool spots and wet toilet seats and fur balls. I told him I hoped that he would be waiting for me at the end of the drive when its my turn to "come home". He looked up at me and licked the tears from my cheek as to say "i love you too mom".
So fishless and fed up we decided to pack it in and head back home where we decided to call a few neighbours and spend the afternoon at Little Red River Park, just North East of Prince Albert. The wind was still blowing but the hill offered us shelter.
The kids and adults alike spent a delightful afternoon up and down the hill. We finished off the day with a fire pit, hot cocoa and stick roasted hotdogs.
