Duke’s Bucket List: The Life of an Author’s Dog
Hi, my name is Duke. You can’t see me, but I have a big grin and my tail is wagging as I meet some of you for the first time, and happy to see others again.
I’m an 11-year old Australian cattle shepherd mix. Basically, a mutt. My momma rescued me from a shelter when I was five months old. My favorite playmate was a Basset Hound named Sadie, but she’s been gone for three years now. It’s just Momma and I, and she does her very best to take really good care of me. I love to give hugs, and go for walks, but after I reinjured my shoulder I had surgery on when I was eight months old, and sprained my back knee, I can’t walk long distances like I used to. I’m sociable and Momma uses words like lovable and smart. I know how to spell walk and bone. I really like it when Momma takes me with her in the car.
We’ve been through a great deal over the past year. I’ve never seen Momma hurt so much and it was sad to watch her cry hard for days. There have been moments when I walked over to her as she lays huddled on the floor, and I have rescued her on the patio in the wee hours of the morning; waking her up and following her to her bedroom. I love Momma. She’s my service human as much as I’m her service dog.
I haven’t been feeling well, so Momma took me to the vet a few times, then I’ve been examined by a vet specialist. Him and his team are very good to me. I’m not sure what’s going on, but there are nights when Momma gets down on the floor to hug me while she’s crying. She says words like pain and cancer. If I can get this right, she has learned that I have nasal adenocarcinoma, and it’s not treatable. Momma’s been told I might have nine months left to live, but Momma’s done the math and said the clock has been ticking since January…at least. This is not fair. I know Momma doesn’t expect me to be with her forever, but after everything we’ve been through together, and we have another transition in our lives coming, she says she can’t move forward now because the stress might accelerate the end.
I am the pet of an author. There are so many days Momma stares at her computer or laptop, but always makes sure we go for walks before she begins to write. Momma thought it would be good to share me with the world. She says everyone loves me, and it’s true. She makes sure I’m surrounded by lots of love, pets, and hugs often. I’m not biased, but I think the world is a better place with dogs in it. Momma’s going to help me with my bucket list, and this is where my story begins.