Dogs don’t talk to other dogs about dying. We don’t even think about it.

Dying is out there somewhere, but not here. 

Not today. 

So how did this subject come up and why am I writing about it? 

Gracie here with Gracie’s Tale #9. I’m a simple four-year-old golden retriever with a daddy who helps me write important things I’m thinking about. 

Dying came up this week.

Daddy met a cool dog named Ali. Ali’s momma Ahnastaysha asked daddy to take photos of Ali and his running buddies, Sam and Nova. But to especially focus on Ali because he’s pretty sick. He has this big thing in his head that no one can see except doctors. It’s a bad thing. 

Ali has lived a good life… 11 years and going. Some days are better than others. Ahnastaysha hoped a day in the park with his BFFs would perk him up. 

It did. He was on fire. Barking at everything, including daddy. Whole-body wiggling like his momma said he might do. And talking… boy, is he a talker.

But he’s so much more. Ali loves water but hates baths. Check. When his best buddies try to get his spot on the bed, he pulls out his trusty “somethin’s at the door bark” and everyone jumps to go see. Ali’s spot is his again. It always works. Check. And wherever momma goes, that’s where he is. Check.

Ali makes all us dogs proud. 

I saw the pictures daddy took and didn’t see anything big in his head either.  

So if you can’t see it, how can it be so bad?

Ali doesn’t look like he’s dying. But his momma says he is.

I’ve seen dying happen once… my big human brother Grant. I was with daddy in the garage when he got the call from a nice policeman who said that Grant was “gone.” Momma happened to come in at that moment and daddy told her: “Grant’s gone.” 

She asked, “Where?” 

That’s also what I wanted to know!

It seems so long ago, but I don’t think it was. I thought he would come back by now… he always did before. I miss him very much. 

So, I get why humans are spooked by dying. And why they get extra spooked when it’s us pets that are doing the dying. 

They just don’t know what to do. And worse, they can’t imagine us not being there.

It seems Ali’s momma is doing all the things she can to make him happy. I think she’s glad she had photos taken. Ali was so high on life that day. Daddy also told her about this fancy website called “Love, Baxter” (lovebaxter.com). It’s only like a year old and already has a ka-zillion humans that read it. It helps pet parents think about ways to prepare to lose their best friend and how to deal with it when it happens. 

Remember what I said at the beginning: Dogs only care about today. 

What’s for breakfast? Ear rubs. Snicky-snack time. Belly scratches (Ali’s favorite thing). 

So… do those everyday things. Every day.

Be with us.

Or let us be with you.

That’s all.

That will make each day really great for us. 

Maybe both of us.

More from Gracie’s Tales

Tale #2: Why we lose our minds when you come home
Door greetings, full-body joy, and why that moment matters so much.
Read this Tale →

Tale #4: The very serious subject of coyote poop
A very serious discussion about a very questionable snack.
Read this Tale →