24/11/2023
Wanted to share a heartwarming story… but
This is Rudy. He was the first golden retriever to be a part of our family. We welcomed him into our home just shy of his first birthday. While he was challenging at times, he brought us many years of joy, laughter, and many pounds of golden dog hair confetti he lovingly threw all over the house floors.
Once, he surfed the counter to steal a freshly baked torte, which was sitting out to cool before being frosted and enjoyed for a birthday celebration. He got that party started early, and he invited a co-conspirator, a visiting lab-pit bull mix to join him in the tasty treat. Together, they pointed paws at each other as who was to blame, but truth be told, we know it was Rudy who had the longer legs and athletic ability to acquire the lemony treasure on the counter that day.
He was patient while we removed the propellers of a rogue drone from his tail, a drone that flew on it’s maiden and final flight that day. He dined on a $400 peach. He was a fine decorator, sprinkling an entire 20oz jar of silver glitter all over the furniture and carpet of three rooms, which we found to our surprise after arriving home one evening. And yes, the glitter also appeared for several days in his p**p. We have many of wonderful memories of him…
…but this one here, in this photo, was one of my most cherished days with him. This afternoon was to be our last together. At nearly 14 years old, his health had been failing. We knew his time was coming where his fluffy tail would propel him into the clouds above, jumping over the rainbow bridge to join his little dachshund sister, Heidi. And on this beautiful sunny day in October, he and I sat outside for hours, enjoying our final afternoon and watching a colorful sunset together.
We set out a blanket, and a bluetooth radio, and any food I could get him to eat, since he stopped eating his own food at this point. Low and behold, it was Cheetos that he enjoyed, and it was Cheetos he got. But also on this day, I wanted to create something special with him beyond the memories of singing songs together and waiving at the neighbors as they passed by. I wanted to create art. So I popped back inside, grabbed a canvas and some kid’s finger paints, and we created a few colorful paw print art paintings. This one, with it’s neon pink, green, and blue colors, is my favorite. He patiently allowed me to hold his paw, painting the bottom, pressing it down, capturing the beautiful shape of his paw print and the furry fibers of his beautiful golden fur between the pads. This canvas has sat on my bookshelf every day since, on display for me to enjoy the sweet memories of my RudyRoo and our many colorful and enjoyable years together.
This Rudy Trick original artwork is one of my most favorite possessions. It’s also the inspiration behind the Pawcasso Art Collection, the latest collection that I created for Modern Dog Mom. I wanted to gather all of the necessities you would need to also create something special with your dog. From the special bonding time you’d get to spend together while creating something colorful and fun, to the precious artwork your dog will get to create using their own paws, lickers, and modeling skills. (Lickers —> I have to lighten the mood now, I can’t see with the tears in my eyes as I type this. Besides, lickers is cuter than tongues.) But you’ll also have something to display that will last well beyond the years of your dog’s time with us. You can learn more about the Pawcasso Art Collection and other great gifts for dog moms in the link of the profile. And to Rudy, you are still my favorite RudyRoo and your momma loves you.
