Ten Years Old and Still Rockin' It

Dear Cubby,

     HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!  There were times, especially after your cancer diagnosis, that I couldn't have imagined this day would ever come to be.  But here you are looking great and, aside from the tired old man syndrome, you're as happy and hearty as ever.  I just can't believe you've come this far.

     There really hasn't been much to write about this past year of your life, at least not till December when your whole life got turned upside down.  If it makes you feel any better, ours did too.  Your tiny baby brother delighted in biting your ears and tail with those little needle teeth, stealing your toys and shredding them, and nosing his way in every time we'd show you the slightest attention.  Now he's almost six months old and he's still doing that.  You handle it all with such grace and dignity plus a loud bark and baring of teeth.  It's really unnerving watching you two wrestling and rough-housing outside but I let you go, figuring you'll put Piper in his place when you've had enough.  I have to intervene when it gets too rough, but you seem to be holding your own pretty well.

     Piper has taken great pleasure in chewing up every single plush toy you've had in the toybox and even a few you had in your crate where he's forbidden to go and goes anyway.  I'm hoping he won't tear up your two birthday gifts, but I have a couple more for you in case he does.  I'm sure you were sad about losing them but, y'know, sweetie ... that's what puppies do.  I'm trying to watch out for you.

     Aside from the rare occasion I absolutely have to have you with me, I've decided that you're done working.  You love working and, even though you don't like to yield to it, you tire so easily.  I have mixed feelings about you retiring.  We worked so hard building your career and neither of us wants it to end, but you also deserve your rest where you can be a pampered pet.  I'm hoping you can hold out just one more year when Piper will be ready to take over for you.

     You might be a semi-retired service dog, but your teaching career is still in full swing.  You've been instrumental in helping with Piper.  When Piper graduated from a puppy feeder to a big-dog feeder and was frightened by the bigger dishes, you ate a meal in his dish to reassure him that it wasn't going to explode in his face.  It only took once and he was cured.  You housebroke him all by yourself which was absolutely amazing!  Seeing the struggle I was having with him, you lead him a few times through two dog doors and out into the kennel to the grassy patch at the far end, and he was quickly and solidly trained.  You're a great teacher!

     Well, little love ... again I say Happy Birthday and, if the Lord is willing, we'll have many more of them together.  And once again, I promise to try updating your blog instead of relying solely on facebook.  I'm in the process of snagging my facebook posts about you and posting them on here.  But we'll see how that works out.

     I love you, Cubby.  Here we go toward #11.

>>>Dear Lord, thank You for ten beautiful years with Cubby.  Thank You for Your guidance, wisdom to deal with difficult situations, and Your protection when we were in potential peril.  He has been such an amazing assistance dog, companion, and dear friend.  And he has been phenomenal as a teacher to Piper!  I love him so dearly, and I pray that You continue to guide me to take the best care of him in his senior years.  Amen.<<<

Photo Descriptions:  Cubby sitting with his blue Birthday Boy bandana and blue sequined bow tie; Cubby with birthday gifts, a plush green alligator and a purple monkey; Cubby and Piper cuddled together; same as the first picture except sitting under his Happy Birthday banner.