I'm sure a lot of you that know Sis & Chris have had the opportunity to meet Rufus, their wonderful black lab at some point.
He has been Sis' protector since he was; really since they both were, just pups living in Memphis. Sis already had Bonnie, a golden retriever she got during her stint at graduate school in Knoxville, when her good friends Carol and Bob let their dog have a litter of black lab puppies. Sis would go visit them and play with the babies after work, coming home to Bonnie with the distinct odor of "puppy" on her clothes.
Sis loved Rufus from the very beginning, so when Carol and Bob offered to let her have him as a playmate for Bonnie, she brought him home, and he became "family".
From creepy guys in the park to would-be home invaders, Rufus has been "the heavy" with the big bark and the protective nature. Since Lucia's birth, he's been every bit as protective of the new pup in the house, attending to diaper changes and late night feedings with curious interest and that same level of concern he's always had when things are "afoot".
A couple of weeks ago when I last spent the night with The V3, I made Rufus leave the nursery, because he was making a pest of himself. Moments later, Sis and I heard a ripping noise from just outside the door. It sounded like something was tearing carpet off the floor, so I checked on the situation.
Me: "It's OK, he just has a rawhide."
Sis: "Where would he get a rawhide? We don't give them rawhides."
Me: "Ooop - it's not a rawhide --"
Sis: "What is it?"
Me: "My checkbook."
Yes, Rufus had removed the checkbook from my purse and was underway with destroying it when I took it away from him. My purse appeared absolutely undistrubed, still sitting upright, no slobber, nothing. He started at the back of it and actually only removed a couple of deposit tickets, so other than the checkbook being slightly "loved on", it's still intact.
Whenever I forget the kind of dog-intellect I'm dealing with, Rufus has a way of reminding me.
Last week Sis and Chris found out that Rufus is sick. He has a growth on his spleen and has become anemic because of it. They'd noticed some recent weight loss and then spotted a "lump" in his side early last week. A trip to the vet and an x-ray later, they had a tentative diagnosis and options to consider.
Tomorrow Rufus is having surgery to remove the growth and possibly his spleen, given that additional x-rays don't show that it's a disease process which has spread to his other organs. The plan is for him to spend several days with the vet before being released home post-operatively.
They are understandably worried, as are we all. Mom and Dad are traveling to the baby house to help take care of Lucia tomorrow, as Sis and Chris' minds will be skirting off to other places throughout the day.
Rufus is a special dog -- he LOVES Aunt Pam, who forgives his excitement and his bad breath and his pilferings of my pocketbook.
Whether they're warm or fuzzy or both, hold your dear ones closely this evening, and let them know they're loved. Even if they're miles and miles away.
We love you, Rufus.
