Dog Craft: A Short Story

The parents came out of Grandma’s room by one by one, bags under their eyes, makeup running down their face, and bright red noses. By that time, I could almost predict what happened. As my mom and dad approached us with their heads down, I prepared myself to hear exactly what I never wanted to hear. “The doctors are turning off the life support machine. She isn’t suffering anymore, and she will be looking over every one of you guys. She said she loves you all so much,” Mom told us while my dad didn’t hide his tears back.

When I finish getting ready I run downstairs and grab my bag and get into the car where my brother, sister and mom were waiting. I turned to Erik and said “hey what the weird song you were listening to when I was on your Spotify?” Erik turned to me and said “Ode To Sleep i'm pretty sure. I don't listen to any their music, but I know that song.” On the way to school my brain wouldn't stop saying ‘I LIKED THAT SONG YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO IT AGAIN!’ Needless to say I listened to the song all that day.. And the next and the next, bacilly for the whole rest of the month my world revolved around that

“Alisha wake up, we are here,” I whispered. When she didn’t wake up, I continued to pester her. “Come on, get up!” When I started to annoy her, she pushed me and told me to go away. As we all cleared out of the minivan, I was greeted by Judy, grandpa’s Scottish terrier. As I was petting her black fur, she was barking and jumping on my legs. When she ran over to Callie to receive a belly rub, I said hi to grandpa and gave him a hug. After getting settled in, my sisters and I decided to go to sleep because it was late and we’d have to help unpack the rest of our belongings in the

“Drew, you know grandma loved you so, so much,” my mom tells me in the most heartbroken tone, one which I had heard only once before when my grandpa had died.

“Ruff” I said as I got out of my bed. “Rough sleep” I said. I am Duck the dog. I know you’re all like you are a dog and you’re named Duck? Yes I'm named Duck deal with it. One day I was on my deck of my beach house. Yes I have a beach house stay on track. I pay for my beach house with all the money I make doing commercials and stuff. I am the Target dog, Stella in Modern Family, and I was Comet in Full House. I see a spark on the beach in the distance. I try ignore it but it just keeps flickering and Im a dog so instincts you know, I run to it. It is a campfire along the trees and I see hot dogs and a weenie roaster, my mouth is watering, and I just can’t resist so I start to roast my weenie.

As the evening fell the dark blue night rose up across the sky. Roy Tremor laid under the stars in his back yard as he did every night with his dog Mabel. Mabel was approaching an old age but she was still a great listener. Usually he told Mabel about his day, but tonight he told her about his mom. His mom passed away in a car accident when he was only a baby, she was the most loving person he knew, and he missed her everyday. As he lay talking, curled up next to Mabel he could feel his eyes getting heavier and heavier as the warm summer breeze brushed against his face.

“He’s nice! Don’t worry, he won’t bite or anything. Er, I think.” Perhaps things would’ve rolled a lot smoother had he not mumbled that last part. “I don’t actually know.” Luke spared Wedge a sheepish look before stepping aside, the length of his body still adhered to the door. Except, what in the world could he do? Slam the door in Wedge’s face should Doggo jump him? He’d heard the excited tail swishing back and forth against the wooden floors, it was loud enough for him to perceive even now. Regardless of Luke’s apprehension, due to how he’d yet to have a guest in his home since rescuing Doggo last night, Luke knew he had to move aside. Hesitantly, Luke stepped fully back and allowed Wedge to see the newest member of his flat. Behind him sat Doggo, panting lightly until his mouth closed and his head tilted to the side again. Luke

“That’s impossible,” Gage states bluntly in a voice devoid of any kind of emotion. He won’t allow himself to think about that day, still able to see the blood on the floor as he watches his mother being taken out of the junk shop. He can still remember her smiling at him and assuring him that everything was going to be okay.

Everyone at one point in their life experiences some sort of loss. Once you bring a pet into your home, they become part of the family. The unconditional love that you receive from them is the best thing ever. Like a child, you raise them, train them, and no matter what, they will always be a loyal, loving part of your family. So, the death of a pet, for some, can be a traumatic experience. You have so many feelings of loss and emptiness that is unexplainable unless you have gone through it

When it comes to school work, I am on top of my game. I always make sure it is done in a timely manner and done well. However, when it comes to taking care of my dog, I never seem to make time for it. Because of this my dad always ends up completing all of the dog chores. I will start being more responsible by taking the time to do my dog chores. I have a head start on being more responsible about the dog chores because I have started to get into a routine for giving my dog his pills and kenneling him at night (which are some of the dog chores). So if I start getting up a little earlier in the morning, then I will have time to do to the dog chores before school. Which means I will be doing all of the dog chores without anyone's help.

When I was six I really, really wanted a dog. I dreamt of adorable, white, fluffy, female dog that would follow me to school and let me dress her up. So every waking moment I would say to my parents things like, “We need something to protect the house when we are gone, we should get a dog,” or, “We need something that will play outside with us, let’s get a dog,” or, “My friend has a dog so we should get a dog.” Soon enough my parents went to the pet store and bought a dog for our family of five, soon to be six. At the time, my older sister, younger brother and I were at my grandma’s home so we were unaware of the surprise we would receive when we got home.

Given the emotional bond most of us share with our animals, it’s only natural to feel devastated and filled with grief along with sadness after losing them. When a person you love passes away, for instance, it’s common for family and friends to console you and provide comfort. Unfortunately, although the emotional aspect is generally understood, society often forgets how tremendously complex grief and loss can be. Believe it or not, some people still don’t understand how central animals can be in people’s lives, and a few may not get why you’re grieving over “just a pet.”

“To choose to live with a dog is to agree to participate in a long process of interpretation.” This has been one of the most influential books I have ever read. Not only that but this book taught me a lot of things. It showed me that there is a countless number of people out there who feel a deep connection and affection for their dogs. I’ve loved animals since I was little but no more than a handful of times have I’ve seen other people with such a deep passion for animals and specifically dogs. It taught me that you can grieve for the death of a dog the same way you grieve for the death of a loved one, because essentially, they are the same being. This book showed me that you can talk and write about anything even if you consider it the “unsayable”,

Once her Grandma's wrinkled hand had touched her shoulder, she knew what she was going to ask her. She didn’t want to visit the rancid-smelling and dark attic. Susie loved her granny, but she hated how her grandmother would use her to acquire objects out of the attic because her she can’t get up to the attic. Her grandma was getting very old and had very annoying arthritis. Susie felt that she always needed to help in anyway that she could. Susie was against going there because the small, beady-eyed dolls would talk to her in her head.

Among the saddest truths about this lifetime is this: A dog’s life is significantly shorter than a human’s life. I said goodbye to my beloved Miniature Schnauzer, Samson, on March 26th, 2017. He was ten years old. It is an opinion to say that losing a pet is like losing a member of the family. The fact is, though, it is an understatement. Dogs are unique in their own ways. As it is said, “Grief is the price you pay for love.” And I paid a heavy priced that day.