Goodbye, Snoopy

Dec. 14, 2001~August 13, 2015

Today, I helped mom and Poppy say goodbye to Snoopy. For the last 14 years, Snoop's been Poppy's shadow, best buddy, and partner in crime. He's the son of my beloved and much missed Charlie. He would come stay with us for a couple weeks each summer while my folks traveled. He and Charlie would spend 30 minutes reestablishing who was in charge (Charlie would wrestle him to the ground and sit on his head until he submitted), and then the rest of the time running, playing and tag teaming rabbits. The last time he came to visit was the summer after Charlie died. Leaping from the van, he ran into the backyard looking for his mom. All around, under the deck, behind the garage; he finally settled under the lilac bush where she's buried. He spent the afternoon there.

Go home, Snoopy, your mom's waiting for you.

When I got to the folks' place this morning, mom was in the living room crying and Poppy was on the back deck crying and I was afraid I was too late. Snoopy was down between Poppy's workshop and the fence and neither of them were able to crawl back there to get him. I took a beach towel and his favorite chew toy (ironically a plastic squeaky Woodstock) and crawled back to him. He couldn't even lift his head, but he licked my hand in greeting; I choked back tears and rolled him onto the towel so I could slide him out. I got their neighbor, Mark (bless you Mark, you've been so good to my folks and I truly appreciate it) to help me load him in their car. Looking at them, I knew I was driving, no question. We got to the vet's and a couple of assistants came out to help me carry him in and get him settled in a room. Mom stayed in the waiting room and I went with Poppy while they prepped our puppy in the back. It took them 45 minutes to find a decent vein, and during that time waiting. Poppy and I relived Snoopy memories. I realized I was there for his birth, and I was there for his death. It felt right, no matter how painful, it was right. After the drugs were administered, he slipped away peacefully. I will always be grateful for the time he spent with us.