RIP Otis - 1990-2008

I know my blog is generally reserved for dumb internet videos and toungue-in-cheek rants so I must apologize for a more depressing change in tone.

I got a call yesterday from my parents in Connecticut, with the news that they had to put down Otis, their miniature dachsund. He has been blind and deaf the last few years but it didn't seem to bother him - I've seen him get lost in a corner of the kitchen, bumping into walls, but his tail still wagging. Turns out that Saturday night he had a seizure that lasted for hours and appeared to be in a world of pain so early Sunday they brought him to the vet and pulled the plug, so to speak.

Otis turned 18 years old on Wednesday, and on Friday they even had a birthday party for him. I was in sixth grade, 11 years old when we got him. He was always the perfect pooch - very rarely barked, very loyal, and while he wasn't a lap dog he was always happy to see everybody who came through the door.

In 2002 I moved out of my parents' house, and then to New Hampshire almost five years ago. The last few years every time I'd drive to Connecticut to see my parents my dad would joke to say good bye to Otis, as this may be my last time seeing him. But my dad also said not long ago that they have struggled with the choice to put him down, and always decided not to because regardless of his old-age health issues, he still appeared to be a happy dog.

When my sister started planning his birthday party the question hanging over everyone's head was "will he make it to his 18th birthday?" He did, and just long enough for a party where some close friends came over and got to see him one last time. Needless to say when I got the call yesterday afternoon, as much as we've been expecting this - for at least 2-3 years now - I was upset to have lost an old friend.