Rusty
Rusty, my beloved Golden Retriever, who died June 4, 1998.
Rusty was such a special friend of mine. He embodied all that was good. He loved any and all humans. To all humans who would so much as give him a glance in his direction, he would smile that lop-sided smile of his. His smile consisted of lifting his right upper lip at the same time as he wagged his tail. Kinda like Elvis, almost a sneer. Many people thought he was baring his teeth, but the wagging tail always gave him away!
He smiled every day of his life with me. On the last day of his life, he was very weak and couldn't get up. He had been sick for quite some time with megaesophagus...couldn't keep any food or water down, so he was painfully thin. The lack of a smile when I talked to him let me know that it was "time" to let him go gently. I carried him into the vet's office and they let me have some time alone with Rusty both before and after he died.
I thanked him over and over for being such a great dog and friend to me and I told him I would always love him and remember him, forever--every interaction with another animal is like looking into Rusty's kind eyes. Rusty let me know that I had done the right thing by "smiling" at me after he died. His right upper lip began twitching minutes after he died on the veterinarian's table.
I cannot explain this other than to know that Rusty is Spirit and that our bond is strong enough to transcend physical death.
He is Every Dog We Have Ever Loved.
Rusty's Mom, Laurel