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bob d'antonio
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 6, 2007 - 11:20am PT
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Nala...was a unexpected gift. A friend of mine bought a beautiful black female lab. He was single and wanted a dog as a companion. Little did he know the task of raising a puppy and the kinda of work it would take to make the dog happy and healthy. A week after getting her he ask me if I wanted her...I said no...but I will buy her from you with no strings attached.
I drove the puppy home that night and realize I had something quite special in the car. Quietly she laid in my lap the whole drive home, with me lightly stoking her small black head. My wife saw the puppy and fell in love...our other Lab didn't quite feel the same. My daughter named her Nala...from the Lion King movie. A princess she was and a loyal and loving companion to our family for 12 wonderful years.
Training consisted of a week of working with her. Always one to please...Nala was a quick study and learned to sit, lay, heel, be housebroken and obey hand signals in that short time.
She also started to go with the cliffs with me at a early age and was quite happy being outside and with me. She was an endurance dog and could run for 20 miles at time and still be ready to go. Patience was her middle name and she would wait like a monk, her eyes following my every move until I said "let's go Nala" and then a sudden burst of body and tail would be set in motion.
She was always ready to go with me on any adventure and endure any conditions to be my friend. She was my main partner on 10 hiking and mountain bike guides.She would hike 20 miles, run till dark, follow us on huge mountain bike rides and then get up and do it again for me just by me saying... let's go Nala.
Never sick her whole life... her only visits to the vet was for shots. She was a constant source of love and affection for my family and was always the "perfect" dog. After a long day in the mountains she would lay in the back of car and not move till we got home. Numerous times I thought I forgot her because she was so quiet and well behaved.
To this day there is nothing that I remember her ever doing wrong. Special beings come into our lives and Nala was one of them.
Three days ago Nala was normal...two days ago she got sick and we took her to the vet...yesterday we had to end the life of the perfect dog. Seems a blood clot from her spleen or liver grew to the size of baseball...the vet did surgery and removed the clot...all seems well through the night and into the morning...about noon the vet called and told us things were not good...we rushed to the vet...me knowing that this was goodbye. I got there and my wife arrived minutes later, Nala raised her head, we laid down with her and told her we loved her and thanked her for her love, she licked our faces and and said goodbye. The caring and loving mother that she is...my wife told the vet to stop Nala's pain. The vet gave her a needle and seconds later the last breaths were gone from this beautiful being.
The perfect life...
There is so much more to say about Nala but I just can't right now. The sense of loss and the pain is so overwhelming this is about all I can do for now. Sorry for any grammar errors.
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Carolyn C
Trad climber
the long, long trailer
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Such a beautiful life and a wonderful companion. I'm so sorry.
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lemon_boy
climber
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bob,
i am so sorry to hear about nala. i send you and your family best wishes. my dog is starting to get older, and i am starting to dread that day.
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Group Taco hug Bob. Sorry to hear you lost a best friend.
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nita
climber
chica from chico
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Bob D, Nala was lucky to have your family, and you were lucky to have her. I have a sweet old yellow lab, who is a joy to have around....Wish dogs could live longer..Pet loss is hard.
Long live Nala in your heart and memories..
Please post a pic...
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Sorry to hear that Bob. At least she had a loving family and from what it sounds a darn good life with you guys. It's always hard to say goodbye to our pets, especially when we have to put them down ourselves to stop their pain.
God bless Nala, all dogs go to heaven.
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steelmnkey
climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
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I feel your pain, Bob. Easy to say just remember the good times and memories. Easier than living these first few days without her. But it gets better with time and eventually, you remember the little things at just the right time and they bring a smile to your face again.
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Prod
Social climber
Charlevoix, MI
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Ah sh#t Man,
Bubba and I feel for you..
Prod.
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SteveW
Trad climber
Denver, CO
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Sorry
It's losing a member of the family.
Steve W
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clode
Trad climber
portland, or
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I had to do that for a Cocker Spaniel that was so special in my life for ten years. Reading your story brought tears to my eyes. I feel your pain and loss. Sometime in the future you will be able to remember this day, and all the other wonderful days, and recall the joy that Nala brought to you.
Peace be with you.
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bob d'antonio
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 6, 2007 - 12:44pm PT
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Thanks everyone...
Nala leading my daughter and wife up Devisadaro Peak at the ripe age of 12.
Nala and her sister (the devil child) Daisy.
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L
climber
Right side of the Brain, Left side of the Road.
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Bob,
How lucky you were to have such love and beauty and uncomplicated companionship for so long!
And what a wonderful gift Nala brought to you: To know that you walked this world as a god in the eyes and heart of this wonderful pet. To be unconditionally loved the way animals love us is the perfect love--I'm sure of it. And that love makes us better people for having experienced it.
I'm so sorry for the loss of your Nala in her physical form, but know that she'll be running along beside you, and in your heart, for the rest of your life.
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Jobee
Social climber
El Portal
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So sorry for your loss, "sweet Nala."
We are shaped and fashioned by what we love. -Goethe
My heart goes out to you and your family.
jow
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taorock
Trad climber
Okanogan, WA
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Bob,
Sorry to hear this. I went through this last year with my dog Dobe. He was the same age, died of the same condition and had a spirit very similar to how you beautifully described Nala.
Take comfort that you provided a wonderful life for her. When you return to some of your favorite stomping grounds, you'll feel her there.
Brent
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John Moosie
climber
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Labs are such warm and fun dogs. It sounds like you were each blessed by the other. Thankfully you had the energy to help her lead a full and rich life. Those dogs sure can go. I still laugh thinking about how rambunctious a friend of mines dog was. And he has been gone for more the 10 years. They are powerhouses of love and joy.
I wish that I had words to help you deal with your loss. There just don't seem to be any except to remember what a joy she was.
It is certainly strange to have joy and sadness mixed into the same moment. The joy of remembrance and the sadness of loss.
Thank you for sharing your story with us. It brought back such sweet memories of my friends dog Ted. He was a yellow lab who would chase a frisbee all day.
John
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atchafalaya
climber
California
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Sorry to hear about Nala. Dogs are awesome...
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Geez, Bob that's really sad about Daisy. Have you considered getting another dog, maybe a puppy for Daisy. Maybe it's too early, I don't know.
Same thing happend with 2 beagles I had when I was younger. The elder had to be put down and the younger was kinda lost for a while. That's always a hard thing with two dogs, they get to have doggie companions, but when one goes before the other...grief.
I had to put down a great dog Lucy two years ago and it sucked. Every time I have to do that I ask myself if it's worth the agony of getting another dog,to have to endure the inevitable pain again. You know what? Every time I get another dog. It's worth it.
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Euroford
Trad climber
chicago
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thanks for sharing Nala's story and for the photos. our four legged friends lives burn bright but too short!
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dirtbag
climber
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Few things tug at my heart as much as a dog story like this.
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Jaybro
Social climber
The West
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Hoh man, i'm never going to try and read something like that at work, again. It was a trick to regain composure before facing my middle school students.
It's a bittersweet thing Bob, I was crying not just for your loss, but the beauty of the relationship you got to share for twelve years. Bluering said it well.
Alobar left this plane in '93. He was only here for seven yrs, but in that time we ran 14 mile trail runs, swam, in the pacific ocean, upper twin lake (?)in the bighorns, and other places we backpacked into. He was the first dog into the labyringth in the superstions. He climbed into my nephews' tree house. He barked encouragment on the FA of Lucille. My daughter learned to stand by pulling herself up on his fur (he hated that, but put up with it, stoically)
He was hard to lose but I wouldn't lose those memories for anything.
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hollyclimber
Big Wall climber
Yosemite, CA
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Dear Bob-
Thanks for sharing with us about Nala. She sounds like such an amazing girl. I am so sorry for your loss. The love of a dog like Nala is so warm and true and I am glad that you had her in your life for the time she was here. Hugs to everyone from me and Dagen the Swissy.
Holly
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Rhodo-Router
Gym climber
Otto, NC
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Bob, that's hard. We should all have lives as blessed as Nala's.
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Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
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A moving tribute, Bob. You expressed the love and sadness that all of us dog people go through. "The best dog I knew" was named Lucy, and I still remember her every day when I walk by the tree where we used to throw sticks. Fetching sticks or frisbees or balls was the greatest joy in her simple happy life.
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mrtropy
Trad climber
Nor Cal
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Just lost mt. biking, hiking, rock climbing, and lawn mowing partner at the end of summer. Never smoked a day in her life and lung cancer got her, but she got to climb and run in the mountains until the last week of her life. An awesome mut my wife rescued from the side of the road and spent 12 years with us. She could run and climb like nobody's business.
McKinley Girl making sure I get to the top
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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One of my favourite authors, the great humanist and animal-lover Axel Munthe, said many wise things about our furry friends. Here's one quote, from his famous book "The Story of San Michele":
"Alas! the life of a dog is so short and there are none of us who have not been in mourning for a lost friend. Your first impulse and your first words after you have laid him to rest under a tree in the park, are that you never, never wish to have another dog; no other dog could ever replace him, no other could ever be to you what he has been. You are mistaken. It is not A dog we love, it is THE dog. They are all more or less the same, they are all ready to love you and be loved by you. They are all representatives of the most lovable and, morally speaking, most perfect creation of God. If you loved your dear friend in the right way, you cannot do without another. Alas! he also will have to part from you, for those beloved by the gods die young."
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Moof
Big Wall climber
A cube at my soul sucking job in Oregon
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We finally got a couple pound pups now that we are out of apartment life. It ends a 10 year dry spell for both my wife and me.
Current Dogs:
Oscar, malemute/lab mix, dumb, 2 time pound puppy, but he really is loyal (has separation issues...).
Charlie, Harrier hound, loud, sweet, tolerant, 2 time pound puppy.
Hobo, lab/basset hound/chow/rottweiller mix, low slung, and kid perfect. He was my Grandma's, got relocated to Alaska with my brother and a 2 and 3 year old when she died. He's loving it.
Past dogs:
Canum, siberian husky mutt, 14 years of outsmarting us
Sheba, malemute, got her at 10, she acted like a puppy for her last 3 years of retirement till her kidneys gave it up. Always good at showing her gratitude for taking her in (previously on 6" of chain outside in Alaska winters).
Geordie, pure inbred yellow lab, forget how long total, he ran out of parts to remove to keep him going (spleen, eye, testis). Dumb as a post, but loyal to a fault
Maggie, yellow lab, dumped in front of our house, we had her a good 3 years before we moved to Alaska back in '88, horrible farts, went to a good home.
Baby, yellow lab, dumped in a park while raining so we took her in to keep her from being run over, we had he a year before Alaska, went to Guide Dogs of the West. She chewed holes in the walls...
Lady, weimeronner (no idea how to spell it), great dog, killed by rat poison by folks who then robbed us a week later. Only thing they took was a 20 year old POS stereo that was GIVEN to us.
Megan, too young to know the breed, blind, also killed by ratt poison (special place in hell for those fellers...).
Many others who were more transitory Mutt, Tonka, Spud, etc (left by friends while living in Hawaii, etc). Our 1/2 acre yard attracted strays.
Always very sad to lose them, but in the end you have to step back and realize just how much you make their lives better by taking good care of them.
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Wade Icey
Big Wall climber
Indian Caves, CA
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Very sorry for your loss. Hope the joy of Nala's 12 years will soon outweigh the sorrow. Maggiedog (12) is wondering why I'm crying and hanging on to her. Time to shut off this stupid machine and take her for a walk.
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LuckyPink
climber
the last bivy
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so sorry for your loss of Nala.. my Blackie was a wonder I've never been able to have another dog since him, cuz I can't stand the loss.
Blackie was a black lab mix with the white star on the chest. His favorite thing was to sneak up behind a woman, shove his nose violently into her crotch from behind just once and then jump back, stand there and literally grin as the woman whirls around to reprimand him.. ahh, climber dogs.
In every other way he was elegantly behaved, trained to hand signals. Many more stories but its hard to miss him still. LP
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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I haven’t posted much for awhile. But this thread on dogs makes me move forward.
The intimacy that develops---in fact it does “develop”--- between humans and dogs (and other pets of course) is very surprising if you really look at.
In fact they aren’t pets; a vigorous entity that is your utterly closest companion, body to body, for the brief years that this one doggie is alive, are sweetest of all our years. Hard to find something greater, frankly, that is so true and uncomplicated, unmitigated. They don’t have just “duty” bred to them; they are in love. Were we all so lucky...to live in the greater animal kingdom so graced.
They are the Fur People, honestly. After 30 years of dog breeding, this is what I have come to understand. Almost as if they were us, in another dimension, trying to reach us. Imagine their sensory powers, and those coupled with their different brains. Ever so honorable.
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bob d'antonio
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 7, 2007 - 11:48pm PT
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Today I wander around Boulder Canyon somewhat aimlessly looking at cliffs and section of the creek where Nala and I used to climb and fish. Trying to keep her out of the water while trying to cast a dry fly was an almost impossible task...still I managed to catch a few greenbacks while she managed to let the fish within a mile know that we were there. Looking back...I really could care less about catching any fish...it was the special time with my good friend and seeing that goofy lab smile that is etched in my mind's eye...forever.
This is the third lab that my wife and I have had to put down...all had long and healthy lives. Still...doesn't make the loss any easier. Maybe it's my age...I just don't think we can handle the pain of losing something that asks for so little and gives so much.
Thanks to everyone here who has made the effort to help me through this...you really have been great.
Weird...these lines from a Dylan song keep bopping in my head.
I'm going out of my mind, oh, oh,
With a pain that stops and starts
Like a corkscrew to my heart
Ever since we've been apart.
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bob d'antonio
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 8, 2007 - 12:05am PT
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Lois...thanks for your advice...your right...I just think we are done after this little bugger below. Don't let the eyes fool you. She is 40 pounds of ears and fury.
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Crimpergirl
Social climber
St. Looney
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Oh. This is heartbreaking. I'm so sorry. My dog, Blackie, has been gone since 1979. I'm still not over it really. Never will be.
It's too friggin' hard losing these guys. But thank goodness we had the chance to share our lives with them. I'm really sorry Bob.
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10b4me
climber
1/2way between Yos and Moab
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please accept my condolences Bob.
animals are special.
don't know what I would do w/o mine.
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Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
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Peter, Bob, both your posts are beautiful, Peter's deeper meaning and Bob feeling Dylan's pain.
We used to have two dogs, now there's just one, and we know he can only stay with us for a while.
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bob d'antonio
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 8, 2007 - 12:56am PT
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Larry wrote: Peter, Bob, both your posts are beautiful, Peter's deeper meaning and Bob feeling Dylan's pain.
Thanks Larry. Nice looking hound you have there.
Peter is spot on...I almost feel guilty...I know that my wife and I did a lot with and for Nala...still it falls way short on what she gave to us.
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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Hi again all.
It was some very renown Grande Dame back east that said, to paraphrase, "The trouble with animals is that they don't live long enough". Apparently African Gray Parrots and tortoises were not on the great lady's list. .
My defense over the years has been to have overlapping doggies, as I have today as well. While one declines and soon will say goodbye, there remains her husband: vigorous, optimistic and boundlessly dorky and in love with me as no actual person will ever be. it keeps things going forward, you know.
best P.
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Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
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They are the Fur People, honestly.
Just so. Reminds me of the Inuit view that seal, bear, raven and the rest must be approached respectfully as nonhuman persons, even if you hope to eat them.
Dogs seem closer, though.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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I'm not going to say this in a critical manner, more of an observation because I've been thinking of Bob and how he must feel. It saddens me most when I hear people say that they don't want to have another dog because it hurts too much when they have to leave us. There are so many dogs out there that are sitting in kennels rotting away. Think about how much these dogs would want a chance to be in your life, to be your faithful companion. Trust me, they're begging for a chance to be your loyal friend.
It sucks almost like nothing other when they have to go, but damnit, the joy they bring into our lives is unmeasurable. You know this!
Edit; Chiloe, I love that pic. The dog's just waiting to see what you guys are going to do next. Nice.
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bob d'antonio
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 8, 2007 - 08:54pm PT
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I never knew what Nala meant until now...just looked it up.
Gift in Swahili.
Blue...we still have a wonderful dog that hopefully will be around for a while.
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Gene
climber
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Bob,
What a love story!
Here’s my baby a day after she had 4 inches of her intestine removed because some punk thought it would be fun to shoot her with a pellet gun. She was about six months old at the time. She escaped out the garage door that the contractor inadvertently left open. About a week in the vet clinic, and then several weeks of the family taking turns watching and sleeping with her. Lots of tears and anger; how/why would anyone be so messed up?
She’s recovered completely and now enjoys trying to nab birds sitting on branches 30 feet above her.
Gene
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andy@climbingmoab
Big Wall climber
Park City, UT
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So sorry to hear about your loss Bob. My pup is getting old for her breed, so I am terrified anytime she gets a bad upset tummy. Don't know what i'll do when she goes.
Fly fishing with dogs is just barely controlled chaos. I love taking my pup with my when I go up in the Uintahs - makes the stormbound tent time a lot more fun.
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nita
climber
chica from chico
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Andy, Great pic of you and your pup in the tent! love it!!!!!
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Super cute puppy there Gene. Glad to hear he/she recovered fine.
Andy, awesome!
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Gene
climber
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Andy,
That bottom picture say it all! Unconditional mutual love.
GM
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Watusi
Social climber
Newport, OR
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God bless you Bob, I have been through this as well and feel for you man. I always said that dogs were the best people that I have ever met.
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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Andy, she looks like an Irish Wolfhound
p
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