Milo Dog

When he and I knew we were getting a divorce, we did what most insane divorcing people do, we got a dog. Isaiah, my youngest boy, had been writing essays and power point presentations for literally years about the benefits of owning a dog. He always said no. You can get a dog when you move out. That was always his answer.

So, he said yes, at the very worst possible time, I just wanted something to take away all the pain and chaos that I knew divorce brought. I did the same damn thing with my older boys. We got Allie, an adorable Rhodesian Ridgeback. I had a 3 year old, a 5 year old and a puppy as a single mom. And no, the dog did not go to the father’s house when the boys went to the father’s house. I somehow always got elected to keep the dog we both decided to get.

When we brought Milo home, I put him in a basket and then rang the doorbell and hid so the boys would open it and see him there. That was worth everything. This tiny, very stinky, little dog brought the biggest smiles to the boys faces. Isaiah was in love.

We only had Milo for about 2 months before I got diagnosed. When I got home from the hospital the first time, after my brain surgery, I knew we were going to need help training him, because no one was stepping up. Everyone was home all day long, and no one wanted to potty train, feed, walk, or train the dog. I ended up doing everything.

When we bought Milo, on the way home, he said to me, we may have to get two. I am going to want him in my office with me all day and it will be good company when I get my own place.

Well, that never happened.

Milo and I would become close friends. I know that all dog people tell you that dogs are just amazing creatures, they feel when you are happy or sad, sick or healthy. Milo was a pro at all of those things. He knew when I needed him and he never left my side. When I would stand up, he would stand up. I couldn’t walk 3 steps without him following me.

During the trip to Florida for my son, Mathias' birthday, I was barely able to care for myself. So nervous about being home alone and worried I would have something terrible happen and I would have no one there to help me.

But I had Milo. He was my buddy. I would lay in the hammock every night, and he would just lay under me until I got up. We would throw the ball at sunset and then he would get the crazies and race around the yard. I've never seen a dog so fast. When I would lay on the couch in the house, he would bring me his ball and push it to me with his nose, so I could throw it to him and we would play fetch in the house.

I sent him to doggy camp for a month and a half while I was in the hospital the second stay. When Marlee, my niece, and the boys went to pick him up, I couldn’t wait to see that silly boy. He was so excited to be home. And he was such a good boy, he learned so much.

I was still the only person that really cared for him. I did all the brushing, walking , medicines. It became another incident where I could see where one thing was said, and and entirely different thing done. Milo didn’t spend all day next to him in his office, and he never took him on a single walk. The presentation of the gift was what he was in it for. The work part, well, that would be given to me. After all, he had a job he had to go to work….in the extra bedroom while having Seinfeld on his TV all day long.

I took Milo, and the boys when I got my new house. He was obviously my dog.

When I got sick again, he was there to comfort me. I remember the day when he laid his head on my legs while I laid on the couch. He would nudge me until I put my hand on his head. Then, he would put up one leg, then the other, until he slowly had his whole body on the couch with me. I didn’t let him sit on the couch, but this day, that changed. He was happiest laying right on top of my legs, and having him close to me made me feel better. He loved me and I so loved him.

During this time, in the new house, it was hotter than hell. Middle of August beginning of September. I had gotten another awesome side effect of my failing liver where bile salts would collect under my skin and make me itch to the point where I would scratch my skin until it would bleed. I could not stop. It was horrible. The hot made it worse. I could almost not leave the house because it was too hot outside, and the itchies would make me insane. I couldn’t walk Milo anymore, even at 5 in the morning, it was too hot. The boys were gone so much of the time, shuffled from house to house. This dog that ran as fast as a gazelle, wasn’t even getting a basic walk. It was so unfair to him. He would carry his leash around the house trying to get me to see he just wanted to get outside!

I ended up giving him to a friend of mine what was moving across the country to a new home with 3 acres of land. She had wanted a Labradoodle forever and she adored dogs. She came and met Milo and like me, it was love at first sight.

She came and picked him up when the boys were gone. Isaiah couldn’t see him go. It was so very sad. My sweet boy was leaving.

When she left with Milo that day, she didn’t have room for his crate. I told her I would drop it by before they packed up and left for their new home. I will never forget the day I did that. She was busy talking on a business call when I arrived. She did her best to guide me where to put the crate while talking to her boss on the phone. When we got to her apartment, she whispered, come in and see him. I knew I didn’t want to see him. I knew it would be too much, but I did it anyway.

When he saw me, he almost left his body. He was so happy, he kept doing hot laps in this tiny apartment filled with boxes. He would jump over the boxes while running in a circle and every time he passed me he would stop, get as close as physically possible to me, and then take another lap.

I didn’t even try to stop the tears. He tried to crawl into my body. He calmed down just enough to stop and wrap both legs around my neck, hugging me. I just cried and held him. My sweetest boy. God I wish I could have kept him.

After I left, April sent me a text saying, “I hope someday Milo reacts to me the way he did to you today. He sure does love you”.

After they were all settled on their 3 acres, April sent me videos of Milo. His neighbor was the dog of a vet. They would chase each other all over those 3 acres and had the time of their life. It was the right choice for Milo. He is a spoiled, happy dog. Exactly what he deserves. I miss him all the time, but I am so happy that he has a full, wonderful life.

e