A Nala’s Journey

 When Travis and I had been married less than a year we were close with my Uncle Scott and his then wife, Amie. One thing Travis and Scott had in common was their desire for a puppy. A golden retriever. And Scott was particular about the breeder and bloodline that his dog would come from. One day in our many attempts to find him a puppy, we came across the perfect looking pups. He couldn’t get off work, however, so Travis and I said we’d go look for him. The result: a newly married wife wanting to do anything to make her husband happy; including letting him get his first ever dog… even though we were living in an apartment building that didn’t allow dogs.

Well, she came home with us and for the first little bit we would sneak her in and out of the building in a duffle bag! She always understood she had to be quiet in the bag, and she hardly even squirmed. Our parents each let us bring her over as well to use their yards, and it was eventually Gma Eileen who took pity on us and allowed us to move in with her; puppy and all!

As a puppy she went through a short and frustrating phase of swallowing things whole (actually she’d did this until the day she died) and ending up in the after hours urgent care. Once it was a nerf dart that was expanding in her stomach, but luckily came up before she needed surgery. However, she was more good than mischief. She only ever had one accident in the house and it was by the door and you could tell she felt so so bad. She only ever chewed one thing and it was a single button off Travis’s favorite shirt! She only ever stole food from Travis once when she yanked his burrito right out of his hand and ran away with it (until she was around 8yrs old and then started snitching food all the time). She was our Marley and Me pup, but better behaved. 

She was fiercely loyal her whole life and loved everyone. She lived with my family for a bit while we were oversees and helped them feel love when they needed it most. She also lived with the Johnson’s and became Vaughn’s confidant that he could take on walks and entrust all his most burdensome secrets too. 

In New York she would keep the kids safe while they played in our back “yard.” She’d tattle anytime they left the yard or give a warning bark to anyone that passed by.

In Iowa, she would visit Glenn and Susan and take over as caretaker to Glenn so Susan could have a break. Glenn had Alzheimer’s, but he could always remember Nala and would just sit in his chair and pet/talk to her so Susan could get things done. She also ALWAYS took care of us when we were sick by laying by us until we felt better. She once protected Maddix from a neighbors scary dog that had him pinned against a tree.  

She was our running companion until the day she could no longer run. She was Lily’s “Big-dog,” and everyone’s pillow.

In the end, she really WAS our Marley and Me dog: we got her when we first were married; she helped us welcome in two boys, a miscarriage, and then our girls. She saw us from the beginning of our marriage,  through all our moves, and well into our career. She full circled with us. She made it back to Utah; to Home. She become the porch dog I always hoped she would be. She stayed just long enough to see us settle into this next chapter in life. She trained Lily and passed the title of Big-Dog onto her. Then it was time for us to let her go. She would have stayed with us forever, no matter how weak or how much pain she was in… she was too loyal to leave us. So our last gift to her was allowing her to go out with her “boots on.” Surrounded by the people she loved more than anyone in the world. All of us holding her as she left this earth. 

Her final two days after seeing the vet were pretty good ones. She perked back up and seemed very with it; to the point we began questioning ourselves on if this was the right decision. She ate whatever she wanted. Many people came over specifically to come say goodbye. We got in a final walk with Vaughn. She went to the Cascade park and reveled in chasing the frisbee with Lily. Maddix took both nights to sleep on floor next to her. Travis took Wednesday (the day before Thanksgiving) as a half day so he could spend Nala’s final hours with her. We went to the park by Vaughn and Lori’s… the one where she used to chase birds and sprint up and down the hill… and we just played. She was as happy as could be. We went back to their house and Lori fixed her a final meal of hotdogs, chicken, cheese, and other goodies. Then it was time to go. 

Vaughn came with us to the vet, and I’m glad he did. Because after our goodbyes, and endless rounds of (hersheys) “goodbye kisses” we didn’t have much left in us to hold back and be strong. We all sat there, hugging her and crying when the vet gently tapped my shoulder and whispered she was gone. Vaughn took the kids out for us so Travis and I could have our final moments alone and unguarded. 

Goodbye Big Dog. Thank you. Chase all the birds you want in Heaven, and check in on us every once in awhile. 

(Ps. Side note story: We had to put Nala to sleep. As we left the vet, Avery seemed very okay and kept telling everyone it would be alright. Two weeks later when they called to tell us her box of ashes and paw print came back I announced, “The vet has Nala; I’m going to get her.” When we got there Avery ran in yelling excitedly for Nala. They brought me my bag of everything and as we went to leave Avery blocked the door and angrily questioned, “where is Nala?? You said we were here to get Nala… where is by dog??” The front desk girls froze. I froze. She had thought Nala had just been sleeping; she had told everyone as much. But it didn’t sink in until that moment that she thought our dog was really coming home. So there we stood as I broke the news to her and we had to start the grieving process all over again! Our vet was so nice and send us a giant bouquet of flowers and a card with heartfelt wishes from his entire staff. We are still healing.)