Anubis lived 18 years and two days. His mistress, my wife, took him to the veterinarian for a well check. Anubis was having a hard time standing and walking. Just six months ago, Anubis attacked his mistress for his daily morning chicken. By attacking, I mean he was grabby. Gradually, Anubis became unstable on his feet. In his last month, we raised his water bowl twice. Despite all of his difficulties, soon after his mistress’s daily departure for the gym and errands, Anubis stood watch at the garage door peering through his doggie door waiting for her return. We placed a throw rug at the door to help his stability.
Mary returned home from the veterinarian with Anubis in her arms. She said the staff was surprised that he was still alive at the age of 18. Mary told me that the veterinarian said it was time. I had told Mary that Anubis didn’t appear to suffering in pain. The veterinarian said he was likely suffering in silence. I regret not giving Anubis more birthday meat!
I bought Anubis to help Mary through the months I was away for California’s fire season. I trained Anubis as I did with my German Shepherd who was at my mother’s house. While I was between wives, one fire season, my mother took custody of Shultzee for me. Upon my return, I found out that my mother refused to give up Shultzee. I couldn’t deny my mother Shultzee. Mother was in her 80s. Shultzee had been trained to be a bodyguard which she did with zeal.
Anubis was one-tenth the size of Shultzee, but he was so much more intelligent than her. I thought Shultzee to be a genius dog, but Anubis was a super genius dog. Anubis would get a toy from his toy box, and when he was done playing with it, he returned the toy to the toy box. I hadn’t trained for that behavior. Our neighbors didn’t believe that Anubis returned his toys to his toy box. One evening, we had our neighbors over for dinner. Anubis got out a toy to taunt them with the, keep away game. When he was done, he put back to toy to the amazement of them. Another untaught behavior was him checking outside before our bedtime. It evolved from his stretching upward to look out the window to Mary picking him up to see out the window to Mary taking him outside. Anubis always checked to see that the vehicle gate was closed.
We brought him home after the fire season ended. Anubis wanted to sleep with us. Mary said, “I won’t sleep with a dog in my bed!” Anubis’ persistence on the third night wore down Mary’s determination. Often in the morning, Mary awoke to see Anubis’ head on her pillow.
Anubis lived up to his breeding as a rat terrier, he was a killer of mice and rats. Anubis was a mini rat terrier. Despite his small size, Anubis was faster in the 100-meter dash than Hussain Bolt, the fastest human in the history of humanity. Anubis was Mary’s shadow for years until my retirement due to my ALS affliction. Anubis became my shadow. Until I got my power wheelchair, I spent all day in bed with Anubis at my side. After I was no longer able to get on the bed, Anubis became Mary’s sole sleeping companion. Anubis was Mary’s sole sleeping companion for over 12 years. Anubis slept with Mary for 17 years and nine months.
I spend the daylight hours at my elevated table with my computer. One day about 9 years ago, Anubis began laying on the bare floor under my elevated legs. I asked Mary to lay a rug down for him. The next day we upgraded with a pillow on the rug. From then on, I was never alone until his death on 8/13/2024. Anubis spent the winter months on my lap for 6 seasons. In the early years, it was so fun to put Anubis on a sit-stay, and then hide from him. I would yell, “Where is my Anubis!” He always found us.
I would be remiss to not credit his mistress, Mary, for Anubis’ longevity. Mary gave Anubis the best possible care. I miss him so much!
This was just six months ago.
