RIP Gable (abt 2013-11 April 2022)

I'm taking a detour from my Arkansas posts because two weeks ago my life was turned upside down. My sweet boy Gable was diagnosed with cancer and I had to let him go. It was one of the most excruciating things I've ever been through. Some people might say "he was just a dog" but those people have never had a Gable. He was so sweet and loving, he was clingy, he was a wimp, he was scared to death of water, he would sit and stare at me for hours, he sneezed when he got excited, he was absolutely perfect for me and I adored him. This is his story.

I needed to write this blog to work through my grief. This isn't about my travels so I understand if you aren't interested in reading it. It's honestly just for me, so I can remember and honor my fur boy.

I was always a cat person. Growing up my sister had a dog and I had a cat. My ex-husband had dogs. I liked dogs but I was definitely a cat person. My son wanted a dog so I went on Petfinder.com to find him one. This is where I found Gable. I drove an hour and a half to the Coweta County Animal Shelter in Newnan, GA to meet him. I wanted a medium size dog, about 40-50 pounds. When I found him the first thing I thought was "well you're not what I was looking for" because he was smaller than I expected. He was the only dog in the building not barking. I loved on him and he captured my heart. I don't know how it is now, but at the time I adopted him in 2015 it was a high-kill shelter that the prison inmates worked at. I saw first hand how bad they treated the dogs and thought "oh no baby, you're coming home with me". I pray it's improved over the years. He was also on the short list, it wouldn't be long before he was euthanized. I paid the adoption fee and was disappointed when they said he had to be neutered before I could bring him home. I promised if they let me have him I'd take him to my vet immediately and send them proof that he was neutered but they said no. It broke my heart to leave him in that place. I don't know when he was born so we celebrated December 10, 2015 as his "gotcha day".

Gable the day I brought him home, December 12, 2015

I had to come back 2 days later to pick him up. He sat in the back of my car on the floor board shaking the whole way home. I showed him around the house and he met (and ignored) Chloe, my son's cat. Perfect! He was good with cats too! Now you gotta understand, I was used to "take a message and I'll get back with you" catitudes. I wasn't used to someone following me everywhere I went. I don't do clingy. I was constantly tripping over him. He liked my son but had claimed me as his person. That night I put him in his kennel in the living room at bedtime and went to bed. A few minutes later I heard a crash and here he comes in my room. He had bent the bars of his kennel enough to get out! I called my sister Cathy, because I was clueless on what to do. I remember telling her I couldn't do this and needed to rehome him. She said "let me give you dog 101". She explained he follows me because I am his pack leader and clung to me because I could possibly have been the first kind person he had encountered. I knew nothing about his past. That broke me. She suggested I move the kennel in my bedroom and it worked. He settled down and we went to sleep. Eventually, I ended up scrapping the kennel and he just slept plastered to my side for the rest of his life!

Although we had a rough start, he became my best friend, my confidant, my ride or die. He had to have eyes on me at all times.

If I took too long in the bathroom, he would come stick his head in to check on me and then go lay back down. 😂😂

We went camping and hiking together. He loved being outdoors. I remember our first camping trip. We were tent camping and I had to use the restroom. I left him with my friend at camp but as soon as I got out of his sight he somehow managed to break out of his harness and ran to me. Separation anxiety is a real thing!

Hiking at Fort Mountain State Park. Look at the smile on his face!

He loved laying in the hammock with me on warm sunny days.

He was a great snuggler. Sometimes I thought if he could crawl inside me he would just to be closer.

"I love you man." This look says it all. I was the center of his universe.

Always down to cuddle

We had 6 and a half years together and it wasn't near enough time. I watched as we both started going grey. I thought we would have many more years together.

Christmas Eve 2018 in Germantown, Nashville TN

Christmas lights in downtown Macon GA, Christmas Eve 2019

Celebrating my 60th birthday at Georgia National Fairgrounds, Perry GA, November 7, 2020. Since they didn't have the fair that fall due to Covid, they had vendors come out and we dined on greasy, yummy fair food

Gable loved everyone, two legged, four legged, it didn't matter. He was the friendliest dog ever. Everyone loved him too. During our walks whenever he saw another dog, his little nub (his tail had been docked for some reason) would start going and he'd head over to say hi.

With his mini me Buddy, making friends at a Harvest Host, another friend named Buddy

I always said Gable didn't know how to "dog". I'd take him to a dog park and he wouldn't play with the other dogs. He'd just stay next to me. So it did my heart good to see him play with his closest doggie friends. Left is his "cousin" Nala and right is him and Finn.

I miss smooching this precious face

I took him to doggy training. He didn't learn much! His Jack Russell ADHD tendencies got in the way. He was laser focused on the treats instead of the lessons. He didn't care for the graduation hat either.

I took him with me wherever I could. He loved exploring new places.

Valley of Fire State Park, NV

Pinnacle Mountain State Park AR

Big Bench Ranch State Park, TX

He was a spoiled pup. He didn't like laying on the ground next to me. He wanted to be up as close to me as possible so of course he had his own chair. I would set it up to where it was touching mine.

Hot Springs National Park AR

Of course, sometimes he'd just end up in my lap!

Squirrels, ducks, turtles, geese, he would try to chase them all

He helped his "brother" learn to walk on a leash. He was so very patient with Fitz when he would stop to look around, never in a hurry.

He was a good big brother, even willing to share his bed

He was the best traveler. On my "turn and burn" 4 day trip from Texas to Georgia and back he was a trooper. He'd just chill in his bed and be such a good boy. He was just happy to be with me.

The boy definitely had the sad puppy dog eyes look down! Have you ever seen a more pitiful face?

His sweet face was getting so grey. He was still very active though.

I always thought the way he laid looked so uncomfortable. I guess it was the springer spaniel in him.

April 10th, the day I found out he had a massive tumor in his abdomen and spots on his lungs. He was so weak by this point. I needed one more day to love on him and come to terms with saying goodbye. I spent the entire day wrapped around him, loving on him. It wasn't enough.

Saying our final goodbyes

I was with him, holding him when he took his last breath. I felt his last heartbeat. He was a special pup and I'm so thankful for the time we had together. I miss him and think about him every day. I take comfort knowing he had a great life. He was loved beyond measure and I know he's chasing squirrels on the other side of the rainbow bridge. Maybe this time he'll be able to catch one...