Asbury

Last week Asbury died. He had cancer all over his body and it was his time to go. Mom and I thought that he would likely not make it to Christmas when the Vet told us he was sick, so we were both impressed that he made it to March 11. Asbury could no longer walk on his back right leg and he had a bulging tumor on his left side. He hung on for as long as he could and we could never have asked for better dog.

Mom and I got Asbury in January of 2000. He was just five weeks old when we brought him home. Mom went to see him first and she says that, “He chose her” rather than she choosing him. We went to pick up Asbury the next day and he howled and howled the whole way home. Not only that but he howled all night long too. Mom and I were working in retail and we worked opposite schedules for a while in order to make sure someone was home with him most of the time. I realized quickly that it’s a major undertaking to care for a dog. I questioned whether it was a good idea to have chosen to raise a dog. I even questioned whether I was a dog person at all.

As time went on and As grew he came with us everywhere. He was with Mom and me on our honeymoon, he came camping with us, and we brought him to friend’s houses in the area. Asbury was as loyal as a dog could be. He ran up ahead of us when we were hiking to make sure we were kept safe, he barked at suspicious cars, and he could always tell when we were sad. I’ve always said that As was on an endless search for love. Not that it was endless cuz he couldn’t find love; endless because he always wanted MORE love no matter what the circumstance.

J, when you were born, we had Asbury meet you at a spot in Millis on Oak Grove Farm. They say to have the meeting place in a neutral spot so that the dog doesn’t feel like you’re taking over his territory. Asbury licked your face right away, and had that tail wagging a mile a minute. It was never like you were intruding on his territory, it was more like he was just given a little brother to play with! From day one, I knew you two would be best friends but I didn’t understand the depth that your relationship would one day reach. When you were a toddler Asbury would pull you while you held his leash. He was ALWAYS gentle and careful with you. You threw your first group of tennis balls to Asbury, and you fed him often.

As you got older you started to take special notice of him. You made sure Mom and I weren’t slacking in the feeding department, you brought him outside to play ball, and you made sure he slept beside you in bed every night. You miss him so much. You typically go to bed around 8 and around 8:05 every night if As wasn’t already up there you would holler down, “As” or “Pup” and up he’d go. When you went from a double bed to a single, you said to me, “Asbury isn’t going to be able to sleep with me anymore, because the bed is too small.” I offered to bring in Asbury’s dog bed, but you said that you would try him out on the smaller bed even though you didn’t think it would work. You were right, it didn’t work but you still let him sleep with you each night. Before I went to bed, I adjusted Asbury so that you would be comfortable. He liked to hog the bed!

Asbury is named after Bruce’s first album, “Greetings from Asbury Park” but he had a lot of nicknames. I remember reading something somewhere that said the more nicknames you are given the more it shows that people care for you. We called him, “The Pup” more than anything else but some other nicknames were,” The Pupino, Pino Grigio, Assie, Raz, and Puppy. So many people called him the wrong name and frankly, I kind of liked it. It meant that his name was special to us. We never got it wrong.

Mom and I have moved a lot and Asbury has come to all of our “Homes” with us. This upcoming move will be the first one where he won’t be along for the ride. It must not have been that easy for him to adjust so many times, but I know deep down that home for him wasn’t just couches and walls, it was with us.

Ad, you took good care of Assie too. Anytime he barked to go out, you popped right up to let him out. You loved to feed him and you always protected him if he was being reprimanded by Mom or me. When we told you that we thought The Pup didn’t have much longer to live, you immediately cried and laid your head in my lap. Then you found As and gave him a hug like only you can. As was lucky to get so many of your hugs for the last four years, I know he enjoyed them all.

I will miss winter (his favorite season) with Pup the most. We got snow ball throwing down so well that I would pump my arm and he would start to run, then I’d say, “Turn” and he’d turn to catch the ball. He would never miss. I used to hit golf balls to him, throw the Frisbee, and jog with him. When I used to run in Millis he came with me every day. I tried with him up here, but he wasn’t up to it anymore. I’ll also miss the nights when Mom would be out and you guys in bed. I would let Asbury go to bed on the big bed and he would put his head on my chest before letting out a great big sigh as if to say, “Well, we got the family to bed didn’t we? What a long day.”

Pup loved to swim too. He could jump about as far as any dog could jump. I have often thought that if he were in one of those dog competitions, he could hold his own with out a problem.

Asbury has been painted on (many times), he wore his bells every Christmas, we tried to put hats and bandana’s on him, and JD and Adam both road on him from time to time. He was a good sport to say the least!

It’s pretty interesting to me to think that the five of us were the only family that As ever had. He only knew how to live the way we taught him. He was the sweetest gentlest barker that I’ve ever met. Even one day when a delusional mole tried to race through the back yard, all Asbury could do was nudge the mole with his nose. He did this often with other animals. Always caught em, but couldn’t hurt em.

It took me ten years to figure out that in fact, I am a dog person. A few nights before As died I thanked him for giving so much more to me that I ever gave to him. When he died it was one of my hardest days. He gave me a capable companion for my wife when maybe I wasn’t available and a best friend and adventure partner for my boys. He was happy to greet me every night after work even when everyone else was no where to be found.

Words can’t begin to describe how much The Ole Pup meant to Mom. SHE was his true owner and caretaker. She was his biggest advocate from the day he came into our house and she is the reason that you guys were lucky enough to have a pup. She’s a big part of the reason that Asbury had a great life. Anyone that is loved by mom is lucky and she gave a lot to him.

Its not the same without you, Pup. I’m so glad I snuck you all those table scraps, let you sleep on the bed, and gave you spicy foods even though I wasn’t supposed to. I promise to do more of that with the next dog we raise but I’ll keep that a secret too. I know you know now how much we appreciated and needed you. Thanks for everything you did for us. Adam thinks that you’re in heaven eating, “Ice Cream Biscuits” and “Running Free.” I believe that too. Like JD said the night he found out that you died, “We will never forget you.”