Farewell Dear Friend
I’m going to use the blog today to memorialize our sweet dog, Kaizer.
If you’ve come to ceremony at our home the big brown dog was Kaizer.
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What Happened? Kaizer developed a limp that turned out to be bone cancer and very unexpectedly went from uncomfortable to terrible pain that medications were not helping alleviate. It became apparent that we had no choices but euthanasia.
His Story: We rescued Kaizer from a shelter (who rescues who?). Bruce and I were quickly drawn to Kaizer and very quickly established that he would be a great companion for our older dog Cocoa. When we brought Kaizer home, he was timid and fearful which was not apparent at the shelter but became apparent as he became acclimated to our home. He could not look anyone in the eye and spent a lot of time with his head down, very unsure of himself. If you called his name, or if he thought you were mad at him, he would go completely limp and submissive, like someone who anticipated severe backlash for punishment. Every bone and muscle would go limp, and you would literally be left with a mass of flesh. Kaizer was clearly traumatized, and his coping mechanism was complete surrender. I’ve never seen a dog do this and it was heartbreaking because we realized how traumatized this dog was prior to coming to our home.
Kaizer had no concept of play. If I got on the ground with Kaizer he thought, he was in trouble and would become the mass of flesh on the ground. I began to make it a habit to get on the floor with him, to wrestle and see if I could provoke playful engagement. He seemed bewildered and unsure of himself but inside was this hidden playful puppy waiting to be given permission to feel safe and to play. At first his play was to kiss my face and eventually he would grow to fully engage in playful wrestling. Fetch was unknown to this dog. You’d throw the ball and Kaizer would look at me completely dazed and confused about why I would throw a perfectly good ball down the hallway. Kaizer eventually learned the game of fetch through our roommate John, who would daily spend time with him in the backyard, getting him to chase the ball. Kaizer soon became the master of fetch. With all of us spending so much time with Kaizer he eventually learned that his home was a safe place and that he was loved, and that he was now part of a family.
We quickly included Kaizer in all our activities. Our older dog Cocoa would often go to the backyard, and lay under the shade of a tree, and just engage in wandering thoughts like older dogs do. And although Kaizer was much younger, he seemed to find comfort in hanging out with this older dog, and it was apparent that they were meant for each other at this stage of Cocoa ‘s life and Kaizer‘s healing.
Anyone who has come to the home has been warmly, greeted by Kaizer’s inquisitive sniffing and wagging tail. Whenever we sat in Ceremony, Kaizer insisted on sitting with us. When we tried to secure him in a separate room he would bark and protest his exclusion until he was allowed to join us. In fact, the night before he went to the vet, he came into the lodge with us for the last time. He was adamant even in his pain that he wanted to be present in all family activities. Buster, another rescue, and shy dog much younger than Kaizer often gave Kaizer lots of attention. Kaizer seemed to appreciate the companionship of his friend Buster as much as he appreciated the quiet moments where he would just look over the backyard, surveying the yard. Sometimes he would just gaze, and you’d wonder where that old dog’s thoughts was taking him? Throughout his life, he joined us in ceremonies, family trips, and was attentive to kids and grandkids. Kaizer is not the first dog we’ve seen grow old in our home. Each one offers us a unique gift. Something worthy of observation and emulation. Kaizer was quieter in his older years, more settled, and happy to be surrounded by his loved ones. If you’ve been to our home in the last 10 years, you’ve interacted with this four-legged genius.
His absence is obvious now, our home is adjusting. Buster seems a bit lost but already picking up his new responsibilities as chief dog in charge. Bruce and I have our moments of sadness and longing for our companion mixed with smiles recalling some of Kaizer’s personality traits. As he got older, his heart wanted to run after the ball with the other dogs, but his participation turned into vigorous barking of encouragement. Sometimes to look at you, he would bend his head, totally opposite, looking at the sky then looking at you from an upside-down perspective. If you have been to our home for ceremony, you have certainly been greeted by his kisses, you’ve been soothed by his snoring, comforted by his presence. One time a gentleman was having a hard time in a particular ceremony and the place he found solace was with Kaizer who shared his bed and laid next to the man who later shared how profound it was to have this dog comforting him in a challenging moment.
At some point a new companion will join us, a friend for Buster to hang out with, for now, we ponder our memories and honor the path of this dear companion as he journeys to the other side. Farewell dear friend.
Many of our animals, dogs and cats have been rescues. We have found this to be such a rewarding way to bring animals in our lives and would encourage exploring this option to anyone considering a pet. https://nuzzlesandco.org