Hercules Went to the Rainbow Bridge

'Member Hercules? We didn't talk about him a lot, but we mentioned him on our blog a couple of times. He went to our doggie birthday party. See here. And here. He didn't particularly like us... cuz we're bigger than him and he had a big ego, being a Corgi and all...

Anypaws... dogmom used to work with Hercules' dad. And here's what Herc's dad had to say about him:

HERCULES’ GUIDE TO BECOMING A BETTER PERSON

Pictured is Hercules, the Weber family’s pet of the past 11-plus years.

I wouldn’t normally talk about my home life in a blog that is mostly news and notes for Southwest editors and reporters. However, I’d like to share five things that Hercules has taught me about becoming a better person, colleague, boss and perhaps even journalist.

1) It’s not always about you. Raising children can wear you out, but having a dog is humbling work, too. You need to feed, walk, entertain, groom, train and, yes, especially love a dog if he or she is truly a part of your family. You might think you’re a big shot, but – seriously – who rules and who drools when it’s you that’s carrying the bag of dog droppings while walking down a busy street?

2) Praise matters. I believe we’re somehow hard-wired to enjoy hearing our name linked to a compliment – though it may not show as much in humans, since we don’t have a tail that wags. (Actually, Hercules is a Welsh corgi, a breed that has its tail docked while still young. But when praised, he can still get a pretty good shake going in the trunk vicinity.) Lay some praise on a co-worker or news source, and mean it.

3) Believe in people. My dog does, greeting me at the door after work every single evening with the unstoppable conviction that nap time is over and the fun will now begin. Even though I don’t always deliver. That’s true faith in another, which among humans – especially hardened, skeptical journalists – is often in short supply.

4) Get out there and play. Sometimes just getting outside and going for a walk is enough to forget about the heavy burdens we sometimes shoulder at work. Scientific studies back me up on this. And there’s nothing like dog ownership to provide the daily motivation to take that stroll.

5) Life’s too short. Enjoy your family, friends and colleagues … today, tomorrow and every single day. I’ve come to learn this lesson recently, and the hard way. Hercules died yesterday, after going through a quick but fatal slide caused by liver and kidney disease. He was an important part of our family, and the best friend I’ve ever had. May God bless his soul.

Until next time … thirty-dash.

Herc was a special little guy with lots of spirit. He's going to be missed. We hope he's playing in the rainbow bridge meadow with Floppy, Tosca's kitty, Tasha and all the other pets we've temporarily said goodbye to.

Wuf Ya!

Comments for Dr. Kate

We're very sad today. Cuz Dogmom is sad today. Cuz Dr. Kate is very very sad today.

Dr. Kate Knutson is the doggie dentist that fixed our teeth last year. You remember... when both Opie and I each broke off a canine tooth the same day? Dr. Kate fixed them both... and then I broke mine again and she fixed it again. Remember?

She's at Pet Crossing Animal and Dental Hospital in Bloomington, MN. www.petcrossing.com. It's a special place!

Anyway, we wuf Dr. Kate. We don't hold any grudges about her fixing our teeth. They feel a lot better now than they did before, that's for sure. I mean, Opie actually eats his food instead of just nibbling at it. (Though I still beat him done!)

Anyways... Dr. Kate had to put down one of her bestest animal friends, "Spidey" the cat. Spidey is to Dr. Kate what Floppy was to dogmom. That one-in-a-million-bestest-friend-totally-understanding-and-understandable-pet. You know the kind. The kind that we all strive to be...

But some animals and humans just click in that special way and there's no fighting it or trying to horne in on it. I'd like to think dogmom and me are getting there and Opie's just "the other dog," ya know?

Anyways... dogmom said we could try to collect some comments that will help Dr. Kate to maybe not miss Spidey so much... or at least to let her know that all our dogblogging buddies understand and are sad when somebody special like her is so sad.

We'll get things started: "Dr. Kate, we're so sorry that you had to help Spidey over the rainbow bridge. I had to help my doggie siblings and Opie, well, he's a dope, and dogmom still misses the Flopster dog. Anyway... if you want to share some Spidey stories with us that remember all the bestest things about her... we're listening. We wuf ya and are sending lots of goofy and dopey vibes... can ya feel 'em?"

Will everybody leave a comment for Dr. Kate? Dogmom will collect them and send them to her in a pretty package. Thanks!
Wuf Ya!