Polka Dot Covington I can still see her, like it was yesterday in her cage at the Downers Grove Animal Shelter back in March of 1999. She was in one of the first cages in the row and all the dogs were barking like it was a contest, but not her. She was sitting there at the front of the cage, smiling, looking gangly and slightly dorky, and quietly watching all the people mill about. Abused, practically starved to death, deaf and with a tail pee yellow from sitting in her own urine. Not exactly what you would think would grab a dog shoppers attention but there was something about her we couldn't quite resist and so she became ours.
(Here is exactly that dorky, smiley look that first greeted us. This is only maybe a month or two after getting her.)In the 12 years that we have owned her, she brought so much love to our family. She never, ever wanted to get into trouble and always did what she was asked. Because she was deaf, we used hand signals to train her and she learned them just as quickly as a hearing dog learns verbal commands. In fact, she got so good at just simply reading body language that a lot of times, I wouldn't even have to give her a signal. I used to marvel at how when I would be getting ready to go out somewhere and had decided to take her along, she always knew even before I gave her the go in the car signal. I used to wonder if I emitted some, you are going in the car smell, or something.
(Just a year and a half ago racing around the yard with Ella)
Polka loved to be petted and to be close. She followed me everywhere around the house. If I was doing laundry, she was right behind me, if I was in the bathroom, she would wait outside the door, and I was always tripping over her in the kitchen. I referred to her as my trusty sidekick and it is definitely going to take some time to adjust to not having a dog right there that I am tripping over. She also loved to race full speed around the yard, to go in the car, to have treats, to go hiking in the mountains and just to sit by someone and be petted.
(Filthy dirty and totally in her element here at my parent's cabin in Utah. That was one of her favorite places to be and I love this picture because that is just pure, unadulterated joy on her face.)I have so many wonderful memories and goofy memories of her. I remember once we took her to Chatfield dog park. They have a bunch of trails and ponds for the dogs. We were walking past a pond and she saw another dog running into the water to fetch a ball. Since she was always a bit competitive about toys, at the next throw, she took off into the water after that dog's ball. She had never been in the water before and when she got out past where her feet could touch, she panicked. Instead of doing some instinctual dog paddle, she instead started flailing wildly around with her front legs out straight, like scissor kicks, water splashing everywhere. We were on the bank laughing hysterically but also wondering if we were going to have to get in there and rescue her.
(She always looked so cute sleeping. I also love this picture because you can see the super soft, loose skin under her jaw that I loved to pet so much.)She was so devoted to our family and to me. I remember once a few years ago, I was really upset about something. I went upstairs to the master bathroom to cry where the kids couldn't see me. She followed as usual. Typically, when I am in the bathroom she sits outside the door and waits. On this day, I went in sobbing my guts out, which she couldn't hear being deaf, and shut the door. A minute later she scratched at the door. I ignored that but then again, another scratch this time followed by a bark. I opened the door and she came in, sat down next to me and leaned all of her body weight into me as if to say, "I know something is wrong and I am here".
(On a hike in the mountains with the family trotting down the trail.)
Although it has just been a day, I miss her so much already and am so heartbroken to know that I will never see her again or pet her soft ears but I know at almost 13 years old, it was her time. I will miss the white hair on everything, her impatient bark at the back door when she wanted to be let in, the distinctive click of her nails on our hardwood floor, her cramming herself against me when I get on the floor to do any workout thing, her bouncy way of running, her slow lick, and countless other things. I still can't believe that yesterday morning she was here. It doesn't seem like enough time but I suspect it would never feel like enough.
I will always love you Miss Polka Toes and forever be glad we brought home that skinny, pee-stained love of a dog. Goodbye fuzzy one.
(Wrestling with Ella in the yard and looking much tougher than she actually was.)
