Maybe he always knew.
That is the thought that has been in my head ever since we found out Comet’s time was short.
Comet has always been, to say it nicely, a dog that demanded our or anyone’s attention. Like 100% percent of your attention.
When he wanted attention from you, he would nudge his way in to make sure he was first in your sightline. He never cared what or who was in his way, as Kevin Harlan would say, “With no regard for human life”.
He loved to sit on your lap if he felt you were going to stop giving him attention in the near future. He loved to force his face into your face, chest, hands, and any body part he could. He would hip check Lola and Elle out of the way too, in fairness; all three of them try to box the others out. Comet always found his way in, one way or another. He never gave up in his quests until he got either what he wanted or distracted long enough to forget. The latter never worked as well as the former.
This is how he lived. In almost all phases and parts of his life. He was like a little tank trying to prove it could run over everything in its path.
Yes, it could be annoying.
Yes, it annoyed me.
Yes, it annoyed Katlynn.
Yes, even Elle was annoyed.
Lola was probably the least annoyed but at times even she was like enough.
It never stopped, until it did.
Tonight, we had to say to see you later to Comet.
Even though he would get love and lots of it, he always gave you a look like, please love me more. From day one, Comet lived as if he may not get another day. His eyes always seemed to say, give me more. His piercing blue eyes shot darts into you. They hit you with a look that made you unable to look away, even when he pissed you off and man, could he piss you off.
Despite his tank-like nature, he also loved and was the sweetest moody boy imaginable. He could frustrate the crap out of you and then come lay his head on your shoulder and lean his body against your chest moments later, a Comet Hug, as we called them.
He wore you down but redeemed himself just as quickly. He was bound to make sure you loved him.
The dude would not give in.
Whenever Comet wanted something he took it, or at least he would be very vocal about wanting something. He would keep going, relentless in his pursuit of getting what he wanted.
Comet never met a stick he wouldn’t try to eat or a plant that didn’t look tasty. Everything in nature seemed to be fair game. He had to try to eat it. We tried so hard to stop this habit but could not. The only thing that worked was putting on a muzzle, something that made me feel bad, but it did protect him. He often needed protection from himself.
All toys were his and all the treats were for him. He seemed to think that life revolved around him and he sure tried to make it that way.
He did not like share, although begrudgingly he learned how. Even though he loved Elle, he still tried to take toys from her until Lola was born, I am not sure there is a correlation there. His idea of patience was laying right next to Elle, waiting to take the toy as soon as Elle showed any sign of moving on. We often wished Elle had put him in his place when he was a puppy, but that is not how Elle is, something that makes her the amazing dog she is.
He was always ready to go for a walk and he let you know about it. The moment he saw you touch a leash or get out his harness, he expected to be on that walk five minutes ago.
His timeframe was always ahead of the earth. He would run around the house howling until we got outside.
The dude would not give in.
As I have previously documented, in March of this year vets diagnosed Comet with terminal liver failure. He was given a month to live. The day we found out was the first day that CoVID really started to shut everything down. When things shut down, we thought, hey at least we get to spend the final month of his life with him 24/7. We had no idea how long he would last.
The dude would not give in.
Since March he has been taking meds twice a day, has been on special liver food and has gone to the vet numerous times to have liquid drained from his body. Each time we thought, he is getting closer to the end.
However, he always bounced back. Sometimes I thought; is he really sick and dying?
He would still eat all his food, go on long walks, get in our faces, demand our attention, play with both Elle and Lola, get excited about treats, and so on. Sure, he was calming down a little but at about 18 months of age; we thought part of that was also because he was getting older.
I won’t lie; the last seven months with Comet have been tough. He often failed to sleep through the night, usually waking up multiple times. We could not leave him alone for more than a few hours. He needed a lot of monitoring. Often we had to blend his food or trick him into taking his meds. He had some awful days and there were plenty of instances when we prepared for the end. However, it seemed each time we thought the end was near, a rebound soon followed.
The dude would not give in.
Comet and I had several afternoons to spend together over the last few months. While Lola napped and Elle wandered outside, Comet and I could hang out. We would play with toys or just side-by-side. He often would throw his head on my computer, just another way he demanded some love and attention.
Also during this time, especially in the final few months, he was definitely slowing down but he still wanted to join Lola, Elle and I for our daily afternoon walks. In the beginning, Elle and Comet shared one leash with a splitter, the leash would attach to Lola’s stroller. At least once a week someone would mention a dog sled team. Such is life as a husky owner. Now instead of putting him and Elle on the same leash, he would walk slowly by my side, unable to keep up with Elle any longer but hell-bent on keeping up with the family.
The dude would not give in.
About two weeks ago, we were hoping to have a play date with his littermates, their second birthday is this Saturday, but his stomach started filling up once again and we had to miss out.
Even with a stomach full of fluid, he usually still had the energy to go on small walks. I tried to get him to go for a short hike. I had Lola on my back and Comet next to me. Elle was way up ahead with a friend and his dog. About five minutes into the hike, he looked at me with a look that seemed to say, “I just don’t have it anymore”. My heart sank. We took a little break and I told him we could home. He didn’t want that either, refusing to go back. He started to walk again. Slowly but surely he would walk for a few minutes and then stop again. I would try to get him to turn back but he didn’t want to go home. Eventually, I was able to convince him to turn back towards home.
The next day he seemed better, playing and even wrestling with his friend Loki for a bit. Loki and Comet have been able to play together a lot during their nearly two years of life, having been friends since puppies. It will suck that they can’t play together anymore.
Even then, with a full stomach and declining health, the dude would not give in.
The best thing about Comet lasting far longer than anyone thought is how much he has bonded with our daughter Lola. This will also be the hardest thing to overcome. These two love each other so much.
Lola loves dogs and it is clear Comet is her favorite. She got excited each morning when he came to say hello. She often sat next to him. She would bow her head next to his, her way of giving him a hug/kiss. It is because of Comet she kisses puppies in her books. She would pet him and bring him toys from time to time.
Comet loved her too. When Lola was about three months old, Comet brought her a tennis ball, hoping his new friend was ready to play with him. It was so adorable. His love for her grew and grew.
He would lay down next to her daily. He would rest his head in her lap. He would put up with her when she pulled his collar or his fur. He for sure got frustrated during those times; doing a low growl that I am convinced Lola has copied for when we ask her “what sound does a monster make?” He never caused her harm and he always came back after taking a short break.
As she got more mobile and understood more, Comet and she played with toys together. They followed each other from room to room. I think Lola thought Comet was hers and I don’t blame her, I think Comet thought Lola was his.
They are going to miss each other so much and I am going to miss watching them grow together. I will cry because Comet is gone but so many of my tears will be for Lola. She is losing her first best friend. He is losing his best friend.
We used to joke about how much trouble the two would get in together. I am sad we won’t get to see that happen, as much as I know it would have caused frustration.
Even in his last days of life, Comet loved Lola. He had given up loving so many other things; even popcorn and ice (his favorite treats), but for Lola he still had love. Lola got up from her nap as we were preparing to bring Comet to the vet. She was able to say goodbye, giving him a final Lola hug and a few pets. Comet responded with a wag of his tail, the first time I had seen him wag his tail all day.
For her, he never gave in.
A few days after the hike I mentioned earlier, we got Comet drained one final time. Hoping it would do what it usually did, make him feel better and allow him to enjoy life.
More recently after getting him drained it would take a few days to get his energy and appetite back. However, this time, it never really came back. He would sleep most of the day and barely eat. He seemed better this past Sunday and even had a short walk. Starting Sunday night, it began goingdownhill fast. He had accidents in the house and then started to refuse almost any type of food. He drank water but that was it. There were times I whispered to him, telling him he can go whenever, thinking my human words could set him free.
Eventually, we had to make the tough choice to bring him to the vet one final time. Leaving Elle and Lola behind was just the beginning of a very rough few hours.
Even in the end, Comet gave us a few more laughs. Despite have like zero control of his body, he still tried to climb out from my arms and into the front seat of the car; he always wanted to sit in the front seat, even though he rarely got that reward. Inside with the vet techs, he tried to stand up and say hi to the workers but just couldn’t, he was trying to show love until the end. He still had one final command to ignore though, refusing to give the vet a vein to work with.
Comet always wanted all he could get from life, never giving in, even as the clock struck midnight.
Until the end, Comet was still trying to get all he could out of his life.
Maybe he knew he had a short leash on life.
Maybe this is why he loved and lived so hard.
Maybe this is why he was so hell-bent on doing what he wanted when he wanted.
Maybe he always knew; it is all I can think…
And in the end, I hope he knew we never gave in either.
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