Travel Tips

It was love at first sight. The second I laid eyes on the little 4 year old pug, we had an instant connection. A connection that until then, I could never comprehend a human having with an animal. I named him Oleg. I loved to take him to the park and watch him gallop after a group of pigeons with a look of pure joy on his face. I would try to yell at him when he would grab the end of the toilet paper from the roll and prance around my place, but he looked so proud that I could only laugh. I definately spoiled Oleg. Even more so when a couple of years later he suddenly went blind. As soon as the vet assured me he was in no pain and could lead a happy life, I was taking 'classes' on how to lead a blind dog. The vet was right, gone was the pigeon chasin and long walks, but he still managed to find that toilet paper roll, and he still loved interupting a nap on the couch by leaping up and crawling on my chest until we were nose to nose.

The last 9 months have not been easy. He had extremely expensive and delicate surgery and although he was leaping on the couch again within a few days, he never truly recovered and seemed to get every ailment and infection possible. Last month I opened my cabinet to realize Oleg was on more medications than a 100 year old man. The process of giving him meds, cleaning his ears, feeding and walking him took well over an hour a day. He did not enjoy this. Last week, he became violently ill one day. So bad that I feared he may not make it through the night. The next day he was fine. Well, no he wasn't, but thats what I told myself. But then I realized he wasn't fine at all. He was no longer the happy dog that handled blindness as if it were a minor ailment. Oleg was not happy and I just knew he wanted everything to be over with. That bond we formed five years ago was as strong as ever, and I promised him his pain would soon be over.
What a difficult thing to do. Heartwrenching. This morning, as we waited in line, I had such a difficult time keeping my composure. As usual people would constantly pet him and tell me what a fine looking dog I had. This used to be the start of many great conversations, but today I could only turn my head and barely manage an audible, 'thanks'
Several times, Oleg lept into my lap and gave my face a couple of licks. Amazing, he was the one comforting me.
I miss my dog. I miss him so much.