|
IN MEMORY OF MAXIMUS “MAX” FOSTER
MARCH 13, 2001 – FEBRUARY 3, 2011
MAX WAS A GENTLE SOUL WHO LOVED EVERY HUMAN HE CAME INTO CONTACT
WITH.
WE HAD LOST OUR BELOVED SIBERIAN HUSKY “MERCEDES” AFTER 15 YEARS AND
DECIDED THE PAIN OF THAT LOSS WAS TOO GREAT TO EVER HAVE ANOTHER DOG
AGAIN. THEN ONE DAY A LOST PUG “TIGER” SHOWED UP ON OUR DECK AND WE
TOOK HIM IN AND FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM THE FIRST NIGHT. WE FOUND THE
OWNER VERY QUICKLY, BUT OUR HEARTS HAD BEEN OPENED AGAIN. WE BEGAN
CONSIDERING GETTING A PUG AND FOUND KENTUCKIANA PUG RESCUE ON THE
INTERNET. WE DECIDED TO SIGN UP TO DO FOSTER CARE, LITERALLY SINCE
OUR LAST NAME IS FOSTER. WE SOON DECIDED TO FOSTER AN ADORABLE
BONDED COUPLE MAXIMUS AND CLEOPATRA “MAX” AND “CLEO”. WE BECAME SO
ATTACHED TO THEM BOTH THAT WE DECIDED TO ADOPT THEM.
CLEO IS VERY ALPHA DOMINANT AND MAX’S LAID BACK PERSONALITY FIT HER
PERFECTLY. NO MATTER HOW BOSSY SHE WAS TO HIM HE ALWAYS TOOK IT IN
STRIDE. HE WAS VERY OVERWEIGHT AND WALKED AROUND WITH HIS OVERSIZED
TONGUE HANGING OUT OF THE CORNER OF HIS MOUTH. HE COULD MELT YOU
WITH JUST ONE LOOK AT YOU WITH HIS TONGUE HANGING FROM HIS CLOSED
MOUTH AND HIS FACIAL EXPRESSIONS. I AFFECTIONATELY REFERRED TO HIM
AS “FAT BOY” AND MY WIFE DIDN’T CARE FOR THAT MUCH. SHE PUT HIM ON
AN EXERCISE ROUTINE WITH LONG DAILY WALKS AND HE SOON LOST A LOT OF
WEIGHT, BUT HIS LAZY LAID BACK PERSONALITY AND GOOFY TONGUE HANGING
OUT OF HIS MOUTH REMAINED. WE ALSO ENDED UP ADOPTING TWO MORE PUGS
AND FOSTERING TWO OTHERS. WITH SIX MALE PUGS AND CLEO BOSSING THEM
ALL, THERE HAVE BEEN FREQUENT FIGHTS. MAX NEVER GOT INTO A FIGHT
WITH ANY OF THEM. HE WAS THE PEACE MAKER. A FIGHT WOULD BREAK OUT
AND HE WOULD SIMPLY WALK UP AND SIT DOWN BETWEEN THEM AND GIVE EACH
ONE OF THEM HIS GENTLE GOOFY TONGUE OUT LOOK. THE FIGHT STOPPED. I
NEVER DID FIGURE OUT IF IT WAS HIS GENTLE PRESENCE THAT ENDED THE
TENSION OR IF BOTH COMBATANTS INSTANTLY LOST THEIR ANGER IN FAVOR OF
AN INVOLUNTARY LAUGH AT HIS GOOFY LOOK. EITHER WAY, THE FIGHT
ALWAYS ENDED RIGHT THEN.
MAX LIKED TO SLEEP UPSIDE DOWN WITH HIS FEET IN THE AIR AND “OF
COURSE” HIS TONGUE HANGING OUT OF THE SIDE OF HIS MOUTH AS IF TO
IMITATE A PASSED OUT DRUNK. ONE NIGHT MAX STAYED UP LATE WITH ME
AND WAS ASLEEP IN THE RECLINER, LEGS IN THE AIR. I TRIED TO WAKE
HIM AND TELL HIM IT WAS BED TIME. HE NEVER MOVED AND I PICKED HIM
UP, STILL UPSIDE DOWN, LEGS IN THE AIR. I WAS CRADLING HIM LIKE A
LITTLE BABY AND HE OPENED HIS EYES LOOKED AT ME AND WENT BACK TO
SLEEP. I CARRIED HIM UPSTAIRS TO BED AND FROM THAT DAY ON HE JUST
EXPECTED TO BE CARRIED TO BED THE SAME WAY. I WILL MISS THAT WALK
TO BED.
NEAR CHRISTMAS TIME THIS YEAR HE BEGAN TO LOOK HEAVY AGAIN AND THE
VET TOLD US HE HAD A TUMOR IN HIS BELLY THAT COULDN’T BE REMOVED.
SHE SAID IT MAY STOP GROWING OR MAY ACCELERATE ITS GROWTH. WE TOOK
MAX AND ALL OF THE PUG FAMILY ON OUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TRIP HOME TO
SEE FAMILY. SHORTLY AFTER WE RETURNED FROM THAT TRIP WE NOTICED
THAT MAX’S BELLY HAD GOTTEN DRAMATICALLY BIGGER. IT CONTINUED TO
GET BIGGER ALMOST DAILY AND WE WATCHED HIM CLOSELY FOR SIGNS OF
DISCOMFORT OR PAIN AS THE VET ADVISED. FINALLY WE CAME TO THE
DECISION THAT WE COULD NOT CONTINUE TO HANG ON TO THIS GENTLE SOUL
FOR OUR OWN AVOIDANCE OF PAIN AND DECIDED WE OWED IT TO HIM TO SEND
HIM OFF TO RAINBOW BRIDGE WHERE HE CAN PLAY, BREAK UP ANY FIGHTS
WITH HIS MERE PRESENCE, MOST OF ALL SLEEP WITH HIS LEGS IN THE AIR,
TONGUE HANGING OUT UNDOUBTEDLY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO COME CARRY HIM
OFF TO BED.
REST IN PEACE MAX, WE MISS YOU TERRIBLY BUT ARE COMFORTED BY THE
FACT THAT YOU ARE HAPPY AT RAINBOW BRIDGE.
LES AND MARY |
