BRODIE was a sweet and shy Springer Spaniel; a gentle old soul who always sought to please. He was a favorite among the dogs. And he was my special boy.
Brodie arrived in 2018 as a senior pup with his friends Jeb and Tig. They were a neglect case – former working dogs at a local hunt club that had ended up all alone in the basement of a condemned house after a fire forced the family to temporarily relocate. When I first met him, he was covered in fleas and his fur was matted with feces, but his eyes were soft and trusting. He cleaned up well and once he settled in and felt safe, he stunned us with the incredible gift of his smile. It lit up the whole room. Every morning, he would greet me by dancing around my knees, hippity-hopping and smiling a crooked-toothed happy grin. His favorite pastime was playing fetch in the yard. At the end of each day, I would sit on the sofa with all the dogs, Brodie always on my right with his chin resting on my knee. His presence was quiet, but his impact was immeasurable.
Brodie was the last of the three amigos after the passing of his friends Jeb and Tig in 2019 and 2020 respectively. I’m sure he missed them. We celebrated a fun Christmas, with dog toys and treats for all. But as the new year approached, Brodie seemed to be slowing down. The ball dropped in Times Square at midnight, but the next day Brodie stopped eating, not showing interest in water either. The veterinarian offices were closed for the holiday, so I hand fed him chicken baby food and administered sub-cutaneous fluids until we could get an appointment. Upon evaluation, the doctor discovered a cancerous tumor in his throat. The diagnosis was poor and the tumor made it impossible for him to eat. Brodie was ready to make his transition, so we quietly and gently said goodbye to our friend, long before we were ready.
Brodie, thank you for the joy you brought as part of our family. When you smiled, all the world was mine. May you dance across the stars with your buddies Jeb and Tig.
