R.I.P., Robbie

I'm afraid I have some very sad news to report. A few days ago, while we were out west visiting Arizona and Colorado, our beloved greyhound, Robbie, died unexpectedly and suddenly of bloat. He was two months shy of seven years old.

It happened overnight last Sunday night at the kennel where he was staying. It wasn't the kennel's fault; bloat strikes rapidly and without warning, and there was no indication anything was wrong until too late. I got a call early Monday morning giving me the news. I didn't mention it here on the blog until now because I wanted to wait till I had had time to put together a proper photographic tribute. I've now done so; you can view 186 pictures and 12 videos of Robbie, from 2004 through 2008, on Flickr. (Slideshow here.)

The photo gallery traces not just Robbie's life, but our lives over the last four-plus years: getting our graduate degrees at ASU and Notre Dame, moving in and out of various apartments, and criss-crossing the country by car, from Mesa to South Bend, then to Glendale and back to South Bend, and finally to Knoxville. In each place, we've found new places for Robbie to play, from Mesa's Quail Run dog park, to the tennis court and lawn at South Bend's Clover Ridge apartments, to Jay & Ashley's back yard in Loudon, among others.

And of course, geographic changes haven't been the half of it. Since adopting Robbie from the Arizona Greyhound Rescue in March of '04, Becky and I have gotten engaged, married, and had a baby. We've both earned graduate degrees, and have gone from being 21- and 22-year-old kids to 26-year-old adults. Oh yeah, and I briefly became a national media sensation -- to the point where Robbie himself made the New York Times. :)

Through all these changes, we've had our gentle giant -- our very own "40 mile-an-hour couch potato" -- as a constant presence in our lives. Needless to say, he will be sorely missed.

Much more after the jump.

It's hard to believe he's gone. Although you could tell Robbie was getting older -- he had more gray hairs than he once did, and he was slowing down a bit, getting even a little lazier than he'd always been :) -- we certainly never expected to lose him so soon. Retired racing greyhounds usually live to be 10-12 years old, or older. We simply assumed that Robbie would be there for our next move, our next kid, etc., whenever those things might happen.

To give you an idea: we picked out our Mazda 5 in January with Robbie specifically in mind, thinking about what we can fit inside with the dog in the back. Earlier this month, Becky attended a meeting for dog owners who want to bring their animals to nursing homes and such, as "pet therapy" for the residents. Whether Robbie would live long enough to take part in such a program was never a question in our minds. Nor did I figure that our evening ritual of walking Robbie, with Loyette in tow inside her sling, would come to such an abrupt end. (If the thought had crossed my mind, I would have taken more pictures of us doing that.)

Still, as sad as his sudden departure is, Robbie lived a good, full life, and he was a fine companion and friend. We don't know much about the first 2 1/2 years of his life, except that he was supposedly a fast runner who was nevertheless retired early from racing because he was too social; he would hang back to be near the other racers instead of running ahead to beat them. (We observed the same behavior constantly when he was playing with other dogs, who were invariably slower than him.) But we know for certain that, over the last 4 years and 3 months of his life, he was well taken care of, and took good care of us in turn.

We got him as a "foster dog" in March 2004 -- and then, 10 days later, having fallen entirely in love with him, adopted him ourselves. He entered a household that was run by our cats, Toby, Sasha and Butter, and at first they weren't happy about the canine interloper; for the first few days, they confined him to the kitchen! But before too long, the animals reached an uneasy truce, and eventually they would get along famously. Meanwhile, Robbie got to enjoy life in beautiful Arizona.

Then in 2005, we moved him from the desert heat of the Phoenix Valley, where he'd been born and raised, to the snowy cold of South Bend -- which he quickly took to, as you can see in this photo (among others) and in this video:

After 2 1/2 years in Indiana, Robbie spent the final year of his life back in a southerly climate, here in Knoxville. He seemed equally happy in all three of the states where he lived. Mostly he just loved being around us, and we felt the same about him. He was truly a wonderful dog. We often felt like ambassadors for the breed when we'd go out with him; he exemplified all the reasons why greyhounds make such good pets. He was kind, gentle, easygoing, quiet, calm, good with people (including strangers and children of all ages), good with other dogs, and just generally sweet and good-natured.

Anyway, here are a few selected photos from the Flickr gallery:

Again, the full gallery is here. It's 11 pages long. Alternatively, you can view all the photos on a single page, as tiny thumbnails; or you can view them as a slideshow.

Comments

[Jim Hu]

Sad indeed...condolences on your loss. :(

[Barbara]

I'm sorry to hear this guys- Robbie was the sweetest dog I ever met, we got along great (and you know how I feel about animals!).

He was a well loved part of your family.

:-(

May he be chasing other dogs in the sky....at his own pace, of course.

[Leanna]

We've been mourning Robbie here -- we just saw him, and we have always loved him. If his first 2+ years were spent in a world of greyhounds, you gave him so much in the other 4+ years.

Your little Robbie is wagging his tail in Heaven tonight and thinking of you :)

Love,
Mom (& Dad)

-woof-

[David K.]

His life may have been short, but it was certainly blessed by a loving family. Rest in peace Robbie.

[Alasdair]

Sorry to hear about Robbie ...

[Marty West]

Sorry to hear about your pup. Judging by the pictures he looked like a very happy dog.

[Casey]

Robbie was such a sweetie.

He was a really good match for you guys, too. I think adopting him was a really wonderful thing to do -- it took an ill-fated dog and a couple of dogless poops and made them into a happy family. I think you guys will always be able to look back on adopting Robbie as one little thing you did that made the world a better place.

I'll drink scores of funereal libations in his honor.

[Fax Paladin]

GoodThoughts and condolences...

[Jay Johnson]

We are so sad to hear about the loss of Robbie. We truly enjoyed having him as a guest here at our place last summer. He was a sweet dog, and I know you guys will certainly miss him. The hounds will miss their "Big Tall Dog" buddy.

I know what you are going through, as we've lost two of our beloved basset hounds in the last 2 years. It's hard to imagine a time when the critter wasn't there, and it's hard to imagine what it will be like without him.

[Nadine]

Brendan, as you mentioned in your post about Robbie, he is a very social soul. So perhaps he felt that the dear departed Pug needed a friend in Pet Heaven to keep him company, and you and Becky now have Loyette to keep you company. [Note dog logic: cats don't count.]

[Jess]

Sorry to hear about the loss of Robbie! I'll email you a few pictures I took when he stayed with us. I'm so sad, and Manny would be crushed. :(

[Lisa]

I'm so sorry to hear about Robbie. He was such a sweet and wonderful dog. I was just thinking about him the other day when I found out my new neighbors have a greyhound. I will miss him lots and will always remember him fondly.

[alphadog]

Sorry for your loss. I truly believe that all dogs go to heaven. Robbie looks/sounds like a great friend.

[isuquinndog]

Brendan and Becky:

So sorry to hear about the loss of Robbie. As a loyal reader for the last 3-4 years, I almost feel like he's part of my family! I know you guys loved him and took wonderful care of him, and that's the best tribute you can give to a dog.

Mike

[Bea]

I was very sad to hear about Robbie. Andrew and I were lucky enough to spend time with Robbie in Arizona, South Bend and Knoxville, and he really was a gentle, wonderful doggie.

[Jeff Freeze]

Brendan & Becky,

Sorry to hear of your loss. We adopted a greyhound just 3 months ago. They are a wonderful breed. Sam is a great dog and we love having her as part of our family. She is a brindle colored retired racer. She is 6 years old.

It is always a tough losing a pet. Our sympathies.

[kc]

I am so sorry to hear of your loss.

[Alasdair]

In memorial tribute to Robbie, I offer this spirit-lightening tribute ...

How many dogs does it take to screw in a light bulb?

1. Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned out bulb?

2. Border Collie: Just one. And then I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code.

3. Dachshund: You know I can't reach that stupid lamp!

4. Rottweiler: Make me.

5. Boxer: Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark.

6. Lab: Oh, me, me!!!!! Pleeeeeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can I? Pleeeeeeeeeze, please, please, please!

7. German Shepherd: I'll change it as soon as I've led these people from the dark, check to make sure I haven't missed any, and make just one more perimeter patrol to see that no one has tried to take advantage of the situation.

8. Jack Russell Terrier: I'll just pop it in while I'm bouncing off the walls and furniture.

9. Old English Sheep Dog: Light bulb? I'm sorry, but I don't see a light bulb!

10. Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.

11. Chihuahua: Yo quiero Taco Bulb. Or "We don't need no stinking light bulb."

12. Greyhound: It isn't moving. Who cares?

13. Australian Shepherd: First, I'll put all the light bulbs in a little circle...

14. Poodle: I'll just blow in the Border Collie's ear and he'll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.

[Kristy]

Brendan, I'm so sorry for your loss. Not enough people in this world appreciate how pets become our family, and losing them is losing a family member. (I am equally sorry to hear it was bloat, and thus thankful that one of my pets survived that.) My condolences to you, Becky and your family.

[Kristin]

Brendan and Becky, so sorry to hear about Robbie. He was a really great dog, and it is obvious that he was much loved and will be much missed.

[thenakedemperor]

My deepest condolences on your loss. I know how truly special the bond can be between good folk and their fuzzy kids.

I have also spent almost all of the last sixteen years as an ER vet. When GDV (bloat) strikes, it hits hard and damn fast. There is only a very small window to get surgical attention, and even then, it's a dicey case.

You were very lucky. You got to share your life with a very special soul. Treasure his memory always.