Zorro
also known as
Z-man
Zorro-thustra (my favorite of his nicknames)
Zorro-man
Zee
The Zee
Janaki’s special names for him – Boo, Mr. B, Booger
When he smiled at the ladies – Smiler
I have no idea why I occsionally called him – Dork, Dorkas or Dor-qua
and in later years – Grumpus
when he woke up the morning, hair all mussed – Mr. Rumpleface
after a particularly rough vet appointment where he came home drugged and disheveled – Hobo-dog
and once, after licking my loaf of gluten-free bread – Rudey. He had never gone after human food before, so it was rather shocking but to his mind, I’d imagine, “Judd, I’m going to see eternity soon, so if I want bread, I’m licking the bread.”
We chased deer together and sat on the couch with his head on my leg. He ate food that I dropped and knew me well enough to know that between me and Janaki, the safer bet was on me dropping some tidbit from my plate, not because I wanted to give him human food but because I am the sloppier eater.
He let Janaki’s parents know that I was a nice guy who loves their daughter. He really did, no joke or mourning hyperbole there.
His deterioration seemed so slow when we were going through it with him but looking back, he got old in a frightening hurry. Eventually, he didn’t herd us to keep safe from wolves, didn’t enjoy being pet and didn’t enjoy running in the yard or even walking through prickly bushes so Janaki had to brush them out of his long, Kip Winger-like feathered hair.
This past weekend, Janaki made the decision after many phone calls to her sister and e-mails to her parents in India. She took care of him since he was a pup and when he became an old man, she did right by him and did everything she could for as long as she could. Her efforts astounded everyone who witnessed them.
He died in her living room, with his head on his paws, sleeping soundly, relaxed in a way that he had not been in months. We were petting him and crying when he shuddered and left.
We miss him.
Githyanki Diaspora 
My condolences.
My condolences.
My condolences.
My condolences.
Awww Judd, I’m sorry to hear about that.
Awww Judd, I’m sorry to hear about that.
Awww Judd, I’m sorry to hear about that.
Awww Judd, I’m sorry to hear about that.
I’m sorry.
I’m sorry.
I’m sorry.
I’m sorry.
My sympathies.
It’s good that you were able to be with him in the end.
😦
I’m really sorry to hear that. At the very least, he was loved and had a good, long life.
Oh, sad. My sympathy to you and Janaki.
Sorry for you loss Judd. Its never easy.
Sorry for you loss Judd. Its never easy.
Sorry for you loss Judd. Its never easy.
Sorry for you loss Judd. Its never easy.
Condolences. The loss of a pet is a difficult time, much more difficult than those without pets would guess. Still, it sounds like he had a good life and a good death. We should be thankful for that at least.
Condolences. The loss of a pet is a difficult time, much more difficult than those without pets would guess. Still, it sounds like he had a good life and a good death. We should be thankful for that at least.
Condolences. The loss of a pet is a difficult time, much more difficult than those without pets would guess. Still, it sounds like he had a good life and a good death. We should be thankful for that at least.
Condolences. The loss of a pet is a difficult time, much more difficult than those without pets would guess. Still, it sounds like he had a good life and a good death. We should be thankful for that at least.
Our condolences to you both.
Our condolences to you both.
Our condolences to you both.
Judd, I’m so sorry. Love and condolences to you and Janaki.
My condolences Judd.
Doug.
Zorro was really lucky to have you and Janaki, and vice versa. He was a sweetie (even as a Grumpus) and will definitely be missed.
Zorro was really lucky to have you and Janaki, and vice versa. He was a sweetie (even as a Grumpus) and will definitely be missed.
Zorro was really lucky to have you and Janaki, and vice versa. He was a sweetie (even as a Grumpus) and will definitely be missed.
Zorro was really lucky to have you and Janaki, and vice versa. He was a sweetie (even as a Grumpus) and will definitely be missed.
So very sorry for your loss, man.
So very sorry for your loss, man.
I’m a cat guy, and I really liked Zorro. I’m sorry he had to go, and I’m sorry you guys had to make that decision.
He was a good man.
First, my heart goes out to you. This ain’t an easy thing.
Second, Judd, I want you to write my obituary when the time comes. Because there is no greater honor you could have given to Zorro than to write a post that helped every single one of us get to know the guy and fall in love with him in the space of a few heartfelt paragraphs, so that we would then feel the impact of his passing.
Thanks for sharing that.
Mick
First, my heart goes out to you. This ain’t an easy thing.
Second, Judd, I want you to write my obituary when the time comes. Because there is no greater honor you could have given to Zorro than to write a post that helped every single one of us get to know the guy and fall in love with him in the space of a few heartfelt paragraphs, so that we would then feel the impact of his passing.
Thanks for sharing that.
Mick
😦
Hugs from me to you both. He was a cool dog, and I’m glad I met him last time I visited.
😦
Hugs from me to you both. He was a cool dog, and I’m glad I met him last time I visited.
😦
Hugs from me to you both. He was a cool dog, and I’m glad I met him last time I visited.
I’m approaching this same thing with one of my own dogs – and thank you for posting something so beautiful about Zorro that it’s going to be a tiny bit easier for me when the time comes.
I wish I’d known him. He sounds like a glorious dog.
My sympathies to you and Janaki. Your post makes it clear just how much he was loved.
So sorry to hear about Zorro’s passing. He sounds like he was a great guy.
Our lives are worthy when we have had a pet who was happy to be with us.
I didn’t know Zorro, but it sounds like he had a great life, and I know that like any dog the thing that makes a dog the happiest is seeing his owners happy. 🙂
So sorry. 😦
My parents just put down their dog, who was still partly my dog, so reading this made me a little weepy again. It’s never easy, even when ya see it coming.
Great good-bye note.
I’m so sorry.
So sorry for your loss, but it sounds like he had a good life, and you two made it good for him.
Thank you. This post got thrown back in the feed because I had to clean up some comments that got duplicated 5 times when I migrated from livejournal.
But thanks for the kind thought.
This is beautifully written. Thanks for the trust. And sorry for your hurts.