Ol' Gus...

Today as our children napped, there was a new silence that we haven't experienced in some time.  It's a quiet that has lost the sound of paws walking across the hardwoods.  A quiet that has no sound of water being lapped up out of the metal  bowl. A quiet that does not whimper to be let outside.  It's the quiet that comes from having no pet in your home...and that's a totally new sound for us.  Today we told our black lab, Gus, goodbye.  Gus was the gentlest, sweetest, most loving dog you'd ever own.  I can say that because my dog, that died two years ago, was the polar opposite of Gus.  Gus entered my life when Cullen and I started dating and then became my second fur baby when we were married.  I am the first to admit that having two young children, and an aging dog, has not always made my O.C.D ways easy, but today I find myself grieving for the loss of such a sweet part of our family.  

It was just 5 years ago, on April 27th 2011, that we thought we had lost Gus.  Gus was in Cullen's home when the massive tornado hit Tuscaloosa, destroying his house...the house that Gus was in when it hit.  We searched and searched for Gus, and were so grateful when the call came in days later that Gus was safe and in someone's basement. I will never forget the way Cullen took off through the debris to get to the adjoining neighborhood where Gus was being kept and tended for...it was truly our bright spot in a dark and challenging time.  Gus surviving the tornado eased so much pain for Cullen and I think we always considered Gus our little miracle dog.  It was the following Christmas that a knock occurred at the door of our new home. We opened the door to find a couple standing with a gift bag and card addressed to "Gus".  The precious couple shared with us that they had been trying to track us down to let us know that they believed Gus had helped save their lives during the storm.  They shared that they were in their storm shelter and thought the tornado had passed and were getting out when Gus came running into them and they looked up to see the tornado coming...so they went back into their shelter, and took Gus with them.  After the tornado had passed, Gus ran off and that's when the other family took him in and cared for his wounds and cared for him.  They were convinced that if Gus had not come barreling into them, that they may have exited their safe place prematurely.  Gus got to see his April 27th friends that evening and they got to give him the gourmet dog treats and thank you card they had brought.  I share this story because it is a perfect reflection of what kind of dog he was...a hero of sorts.  

Gus will be missed by us all...but I know Cullen will miss him more than anyone.  I am thankful for his life, and am thankful for all that our pets have taught us about love and loyalty. Gus and Cheney have both left scratches on the floor, and an amazing amount of dog hair...but the paw prints on our hearts is what we will cherish forever.  

Cheney and Gus...shortly after we found Gus, May 2007.