An Angel Named Cody
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
by Janet Schick
It's been almost two years now since Cody got so sick and had to be put to sleep. He was 14 years old at the time, so it wasn't really a premature death. And if the measure of a life is how much one is loved and how much love one has given, then Cody's life was a spectacular success.
He came to live with us after being threatened with a trip to the animal shelter. His former owners had gotten another dog, and Cody didn't fit into their lives anymore. So one day, when my husband suggested we give him a try, and possibly a permanent home, I couldn't say no. We are both soft touches when it comes to stray animals, always have been.
I had a lot of pet names for Cody. But the most accurate by far was" My Personal Body Guard". He never left my side, day or night. Where I went, there was Cody. Glance down at him and his tail would wag. Talk to him, and his tail would wag harder and his eyes would light up. Bend down and hug him and his whole body would wag, love would pour out of his eyes and his tongue would go into action, straining to lick any and every part of me that it could reach. My family got a kick out of pretending to attack me, just to see Cody leap to my defense. And he always did, without fail, come to my defense. He knew they were only teasing, so he limited himself to jumping up, barking and growling at them to "knock it off!" And he enjoyed the game, too, because choruses of "Good boy, Cody" and grateful hugs from me inevitably followed.
The years passed by quickly with Cody as my guardian angel. After a while, he got too arthritic to jump up on the bed or couch with me, so I made him a bed from aghans that I had crocheted over the years. The other dogs knew not to even THINK about laying on Cody's bed--it was private property. I began to realize how cold and lonely life without my own personal Cody would be.
And suddenly, he was very, very old. He became confused, fell down a lot and wouldn't eat. At first, I just doubled my efforts to be there to help him get up again, make his favorite foods, and hug him and reassure him that I would always be there for him, just as he had always been there for me. But I knew that soon, those things wouldn't be enough. I would have to end his suffering, help him to say goodby, as the ultimate act of love and gratitude. As he lay on the table at the veterinarian's office, I held his head in my hands and whispered "I love you, Cody" over and over again. I don't know if he felt my tears on his funny little whiskers, but they were there.
Now Cody lies in the garden, among half a dozen of his brothers and sisters, among flowers planted in their honor. A simple headstone reads "Rest Here Awhile".
And I know now that, even after almost two years, it is a cold and lonely world without my Cody.
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Top-level comments on this article: (9 total)Nice. It's easy to cry over this one, especically when I lived with him too.
That was beautiful. Thanks for sharing with us. I found memories of two of my favorite dogs come out the the cracks and crevases of my memories. Thanks again.Thanks for the kind comment, Richard, I'm glad it recalled some fond memories for you.
Well your article was truly heartwarming and it brought back fond yet painful memories of my friend's dog, Tiger.Tiger died while trying to save my friend outside his home when an armed assailant tried to attack him with a gun. Tiger leaped at him and was downed by a gunshot in his neck.Dogs are heroes in so many ways! Thanks for reading, Ravi
I know I am missing a lot by not being able to have a dog, but it sounds like Cody was good for you.He was one in a million, Linda. Thanks for the comment
The author clearly shows passion in this very touching article.Thanks for the kind comment.
Ahhh, I hear you - we just put our older kitty to rest in the back year in December of this past year. We sure do miss them, don't we? MarijoThey never really leave us, though. Thanks for reading, Marijo
I liked this article. Animals can and do give us so many great gifts in life, sometimes they can change a person's whole life by being there. You'll always have your loving, good memories- death cannot take those from us. Thanks--Always-Ella
Thanks for reading and for the nice comment! By the way, I have a new baby granddaughter named Ella.
Thank you so very much for sharing this story. I really appreciate the love Cody had for you and you for him.
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