Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Saying goodbye to Buki

Change is hard for our sweet dog. There have been a lot of changes, and she's been very anxious about them. Thursday night she lashed out at Magano and sent her to the vet with a bad bite. We can't keep doing this. Keeping the dogs separate at all times is not a realistic solution. And Buki deserves to be in a place where she is happy. So with heavy hearts, we have taken up our friends' offer to give Buki a home. Luckily for her, it will be the home she is used to - they are going to move into our house when we leave. She will get to stay here, with the yard she loves running around in, and with the people who have taken care of her every time we've gone to Ethiopia. Given the circumstances, it's the best possible solution. We will miss her so much, her funny little tooth snap to show that she's had the last word, her Dick Cheney lip curl, her oversized snuggles on the couch. She is a good, good dog. She had many fun years racing through the woods chasing deer and plunging into lakes chasing sticks. Now that she is older and often overwhelmed by life, she needs to be an only dog in a quiet house. It's for the best for everyone... but tonight I am so sad to say goodbye to sweet, sweet Buki.

Some old photos of Buki having a blast with her sister:



6 comments:

  1. Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. It sounds like the best solution for everyone, but that doesn't mean it won't hurt. It sounds to me like you had her best interests at heart, and I hope that can give you some peace.

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  2. I am sorry to hear you have to say goodbye. This was, for some reason one of my biggest fears when we brought the kids home - that somehow it wouldn't all work out and we'd have to figure out what to do with one or both of our dogs. It does sound like you couldn't have set up a better situation for her though. I'm sure she'll appreciate the peace.

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  3. So sad. What a hard decision. But, in the long run sounds like it's for the best. And how amazing that she'll get to stay in her own house. That makes it just seem meant to be.

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  4. You guys have sure had your share of change, and it can be so hard. I'm so sorry about Buki, and agree that this situation seems best for her for sure--staying in the same house, with people she knows. It still must be really hard, though.

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  5. And in our parallel universe two years ago this week - our older, intense dog bit our small dog's eyeball right out of his head... two weeks after Little Dude had joined our family and we had relocated to Missouri. Unfortunately, we did NOT have the wonderful option you have. And when she bit PJ the next day for NO reason, she sealed her fate.
    Sounds like you are doing the absolute best thing for all involved... and that is coming from someone who spent years working in humane societies and trying to convince people to make proper commitments to their pets.

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  6. It is very sad to hear this. I really commend the effort you put forth with Buki and I wish you could have made it work, but sometimes ingrained trauma is impossible to overcome. I can't begin to comprehend your loss.

    I hope we can come visit sometime this summer with Choops (long time since he has played with Magano) and Tiks. Tikaani might be the most gentle dog with children you have ever met.

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