The tired-old story goes like this: Kids beg their mom for a dog. The kids swear up and down that they will take care of the dog. The mom buys the kids a dog. The kids love Mom! Six months later Mom has to incessantly remind the kids to fill the dog’s water dish. The mom feels screwed over.
This is not that story.
Saturday morning I wake up and stumble downstairs to make coffee. I look around the kitchen for the water-filter and see it on the floor next to the dog dish. My son woke up at dawn, let our poodle Merlin out, gave Merlin leftover steak and some filtered water, and then they both climbed back into bed.
Later that afternoon I pull my car into the garage after an epic trip to Fred Meyer. I barely turn off the ignition before I hear the muffled sound of both kids shrieking “Grab Merlin!” from inside the house. When I open the door one of them holds Merlin while the other leaps up to help me with groceries. They are terrified that Merlin will escape through the open garage door.
The long Saturday winds down and I’m about to put everyone to bed when I notice that Merlin has peed on the playroom floor. Grumbling, I search for the carpet spray. I come back to discover my son soaking up the spot with paper towels. “This is the second time today,” he says — without complaining. I didn’t know about Merlin’s first accident because my son had already cleaned it up.
Merlin has taught me that my children can be incredibly responsible when they want to be, and that they each have an endless capacity for unconditional love.
Merlin loves them back, usually adoringly, but sometimes in a grouchy old-man sort of way. If it’s 8:30 p.m. and he’s curled up on the couch, he’ll growl and try to bite whoever moves him. Since Merlin barely has any teeth, it’s more of a gumming. We stand firm and Merlin submits, but he never learns, probably because he is so old.
The rescue group from Texas that arranged his adoption last fall said Merlin was 2 years old. Our vet later removed seven of Merlin’s teeth and said Merlin was at least 5. Then one morning Merlin started walking like he was drunk. We immediately brought him back to the vet.
“I’m sorry,” the vet said. “Merlin has a slipped disc. He’ll either recover after crate-rest and medicine, or else he’ll need back surgery.”
Surgery that would cost around $6,000. With this new information, the vet said Merlin was 10 years old or more.
Thankfully, Merlin’s disc slipped back into place after several weeks of rest, but not without a lot of stress and sadness.
Merlin is our sweet, fluffy, broken-down dog who seems too old to learn anything, even after a session of dog school. My kids love him anyway.
That’s an old story, too.
Jennifer Bardsley lives in Edmonds. Her book “Genesis Girl” comes out June 14. Find her online on Instagram @the_ya_gal, Twitter @jennbardsley or at teachingmybabytoread.com.
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