A Goodbye to Tuck
Today Heartfelt Farewell to Tuck, the family said goodbye to their beloved dog, Tuck. He had been with them for over ten years, a constant source of joy and companionship. Tuck came into their lives during their last family vacation to the Turks and Caicos Islands, and from that moment, he began to change their lives in ways they never could have imagined.
A Serendipitous Adoption
Searching for a dog to accompany Jon on runs, they landed on the main island and picked up an island magazine at their hotel. It featured an article about the TCSPCA, a rescue group saving potcakes—local village dogs often abandoned and feral. These dogs faced a heartbreaking cycle of being pets, dumped, becoming feral, and finally rescued.
Visiting the shelter revealed many sick dogs and puppies, lacking facilities for all their rescues, so many dogs were in foster care. While browsing the gift shop, hoping to contribute to the shelter’s efforts, the manager quietly called a foster mom. Soon, a van pulled into the parking lot, and three adults and four potcake puppies tumbled out.
Choosing Tuck
Tuck was one of eight puppies born to a rescued potcake mother. The other four had already been adopted, leaving Tuck and his three siblings. Throughout the week, they tested the puppies to find the best running companion for Jon. They fell in love with three of them. Their first choice was adopted, then another, leaving them with Tuck, their second choice. Tuck and his sister were brought back to the United States.
Potcakes are an anxious breed, and Tuck took a while to house-train fully. As first-time dog owners, they were amazed at what he considered edible. Their most frequent phrases in those early years were, “I didn’t know they ate things like that” and “Eeeeuuuww!!!”
Tuck loved lying on the sofa with them and slept on their bed until he grew too big, and they adopted Nick, another island rescue who was even bigger. They were fortunate to have a big house and a large backyard. Living near river trails and reservoirs with open areas, perfect for a dog to run free, they still remembered Tuck and Nick racing through high drifts of snow, plowing through snowbanks like furry snowmobiles. They loved snow and sunshine but hated water. Island dogs! Go figure.
Tuck’s Growth and Personality
As Tuck grew, he became good with other dogs, including the dozens of potcake puppies they fostered over the years. He grew from a sweet, awkward puppy into a beautiful, elegant, and graceful dog. A friend’s mother once remarked that he was “a noble dog,” which suited him perfectly. Tuck was never violent or aggressive, even when grumbling about sharing the couch with their elderly cat, Chai, or Nick.
Tuck kept his soft, dense puppy fur throughout his life. His anxious, winsome, sad-puppy look never failed to melt their hearts. As he aged, he became a bit grumpy, especially with other dogs, including Nick. However, he was always gentle with vets and nail trimmers, never crossing the line into aggression.
Life in California
When they moved to California, Tuck’s life changed. Jon had double-hip replacement surgery, ending their running sessions. There were also fewer places for a dog to be off-leash. Despite the smaller life, Tuck adapted well. However, they faced a difficult year when they lost both parents, and their daughter suffered a miscarriage.
The Year of Challenges
During this challenging time, Tuck began to slow down and became more reluctant to take long walks. One fall, they thought they were losing him for certain. He couldn’t walk, was incontinent, and wouldn’t eat. They rushed him to an emergency pet hospital, only to find out he had eaten a marijuana brownie on a walk the day before. It was frightening for him and them, but they made it through.
Then, in early 2019, their daughter lost her second baby, eight months into her pregnancy. The devastation was immense. Amidst this grief, Tuck’s health took a severe turn for the worse.
Pancreatitis and Diabetes
Tuck developed acute pancreatitis, initially misdiagnosed by their first vet but later caught by an emergency hospital. After their losses, they were determined to spare no expense to ensure Tuck’s recovery. However, this decision led to financial and emotional strain.
Tuck developed diabetes, requiring expensive medication and constant care. Their lives became a highly-scheduled regime of expensive food, insulin, supplements, and bi-weekly reassessments. Tuck hated the pills more than the insulin shots, and his quality of life began to deteriorate.
Deciding When to Let Go
A great vet helped them understand that some dogs recover and have a good life, but others don’t. They wanted clarity on when it was too much for Tuck to handle. After trying some strategies, it became clear that his quality of life was not improving.
One night, he couldn’t sleep, pee, or eat and whined constantly. The next morning, things were even worse. They took him to the emergency hospital, where they were met with judgment by one person but compassion and understanding by others. They reassured them that their decision to let him go was based on his best interests.
The Final Moments
They were placed in a private room with a soft cushion for Tuck. They sat with him, held him, and whispered, “Who’s a cute puppy?” and “What a good dog!” He lay there quietly, and as he received the final dosage, he relaxed and peacefully passed away.
A Tribute to Tuck
Goodbye, beautiful boy. Thank you for the years of joy and laughter, the wonderful memories. Thank you for your exuberance, companionship, devotion, and love. Thank you for being a noble dog, for loving sunshine, and for hating rain and baths. Thank you for inspiring them to learn more about dogs and for being a part of their lives.
Tuck made them dog people, and they will always be grateful for that. They were waiting for him all along, never knowing how much they needed him until he showed up in their lives. They will miss him forever but know he is now at peace.
Epilogue
After a disagreement a day ago, they made up and drove to Bodega Head. For the first time ever, when they put the windows down, Tuck and Nick both stuck their heads out of the window. They could see Tuck in the rearview mirror, looking happy.
They went for a long walk along the road that follows the inner bay. He tried to eat a dead crab. (No, Tuck.) He sniffed every piece of garbage. He tried to eat a sandwich wrapper. They laughed. It was their last good day with him.
Today, his serene, smiling face, with his snout facing into the wind, still appears, just….happy. And now they know firsthand, what they’ve always known is true: Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
