Macauley

This week I received some awful news.  Macauley, my "part time dog," crossed the Rainbow Bridge at the ripe old age of 13.  He had been battling health issues the past few months and passed away peacefully this past Tuesday night.

Yes, I had a part time dog.  

That was Macauley.

Macauley was a simple Shih-Tzu, in fact he was a puppy mill dog, but that's where the "simple" ends.

He was also Tyler's best friend. 

Tyler and Macauley first met back in 2007.  Macauley came to live with me for a few weeks while his owner did some renovations on her house.  Having known Macauley for years, I was more than happy to take him in and provide a safe home while construction went on.

Mind you, Tyler had not, to my knowledge, every lived with a dog, so I had no idea how he would react.  After all, he had been the only pet for years.  Would this be a disaster?  Would they fight like.....pardon the pun, cats and dogs?

Quite the opposite. They instantly hit it off and began a friendship that would last a lifetime.

Macauley, you see, shared a lot in common with my Tyler.  Most importantly, they shared a fierce determination to defend their territory.

Macauley was the alpha dog, Tyler the alpha cat. A match made in alpha heaven.  Tyler would guard the apartment from the window, Macauley from the front door.  Trust me, with them on the job, I never felt safer! If Tyler saw something he viewed as a threat from the window, Macauley would start barking at the door.  No communication, no alarm needed to be sounded, they just knew.  It was amazing how well they worked together.

Macauley had no issues with using a puppy pad if it was raining outside, he was that considerate.  As soon as he was done with his "business," Tyler would neatly fold the used puppy pad and push it off to the side and out of the way.  Now that's what I call friendship!

In 2012, while Macauley's owner was looking for a new dog-friendly apartment, Macauley came to live with me for almost 6 months.  I had quite the zoo!  Tyler, Tiger, and Macauley.  Tyler was more than happy to have his best canine friend back to share the guard duties.  As much as Tyler tried to delegate to Tiger, Tiger simply did not have any alpha instincts in him and had no interest in guarding anything.  With Macauley back on the job, Tyler could delegate and rest easy.

I for one loved having Macauley as my "dog."  He would keep Tyler and Tiger company, prevent intruders from entering, and he always turned heads when I walked him.  I lived next to a large catholic church at the time, and would always walk him on the church grounds on Sundays.  I can tell you, everyone leaving services would compliment Macauley! He was a pleasure to have around, and had a diet that would make even the most health conscious person envious.  Aside from high-quality dry dog food, his meals generally consisted of steamed vegetables, pasta, and boiled chicken.  This dog ate and ate well!  No Alpo for my dog!

Tyler and Macauley took all their meals together:

Macauley even came with me to work!

He never failed in his guarding duties:

He was just an all around great dog and I loved him as if he was my very own.

In June of 2014, Macauley's owner went away for a long weekend, so naturally, I jumped at the chance to have him stay with me for the weekend.  By that point, Tyler had just turned 15 and was in failing health.  Macauley himself was almost 12 and showing some signs of old age.  For that weekend, old age did not matter. From the moment Macauley walked in and checked out my new apartment, it was as if he never left me.  Tyler perked up and could not be happier that his old friend was back.  He ran over, they sniffed each other, and went on their merry way together. 

Like two old friends sharing a park bench, Tyler and Macauley did not leave each other's side that weekend.

A little more than a month after what would be Macauley's final visit with me, Tyler crossed the Rainbow Bridge.  I am always grateful that he got to see his best friend one more time that late June weekend.  Tyler loved Macauley, and Macauley loved Tyler.  

They were two peas in a pod.

Run free, sweet Macauley.  I will miss having you for long weekends, for long car rides, how you always loved to curl up on my lap but never liked having your face touched.  I will miss your little adorable sneer, your snore, your swagger, your grace, and how you touched Tyler's heart in a way no other animal ever did.  

Please join me in honoring Tyler's best friend.

Macauley.