The last year had its problems for the dog known by so many nicknames through the years-"T.R", 'The Tedster" "Tez-the pug suplex machine" and "the world's toughest pug" among others.
Teddy was still getting around OK,but his vision was pretty bad and only his familiarity with his surroundings helped him get around as often he pinballed around the house.
Teddy still hung tough in fighting off battles that would have finished many,but last night after the Suns game against Hickory,we discovered him battling what we thought was yet another case of vertigo.
Sadly,that was not the case and brain damage was the culprit,an inflammation of the brain that afflicts many pugs had set in and as a result forcing my hand in making the toughest decision a pet owner has to make.
The photo to the left is one of the few of Teddy before he turned gray.
As hard as it is to believe,when Teddy sprinted up our old steps on Preakness day 2000,people were still using film for photos and digital cameras were in their infancy as well as for the well off.
The world was a different place then-there had not been a 9/11,Ryan was a new teenager,Rachel was just three and we had yet to purchase our home.Teddy grew older,survived the loss of his pal Chancellor (Teddy passed just nine days short of the six year mark of Chancellor's passing) and tolerated his new buddy Ed.
Teddy was always the alpha dog even being the boss of Ed,although usually Teddy just wandered around like Ed and our cat Shiloh didn't exist at all,secure in being the leader of the house.
Everyone always loved Teddy,his personality was such a strong one for a dog,people just fell in love with the little guy.
Such spirit,mischievousness and what evolved from that was known to everyone as "the Teddy voice".
That's right,Teddy spoke with his personality so much,that many of us (family and friends) actually would speak as "Teddy".
Unusual? Sure,but so many participated in it,after a while,it almost became second nature.
Teddy might have slowed down at the end,but he truly loved one friend above the others.
He truly loved Battlin' Bob.
When Bob would come over,Teddy knew it as soon as he came in and made a beeline straight for the Battler'.
Bob, let it be known,how much he loved you.
Teddy always found a way to entertain even when he didn't mean to do so.
When we first got him,he would clear off an entire table in order to look out the window when we were gone.
It didn't take long to figure out that he was conning us with what he could do,even near the end,he still stunned us on occasion by jumping up onto the couch or down to the floor.
Even in the rougher times,Teddy still had a way of surprising us.
Teddy also made the transition to elderly with the help of Rachel.
The three year old that stood on a hope chest scared to death when he scrambled into our lives became the sixteen year old almost full time nursemaid over the last year or so.
Rachel took care of him when he didn't want to sleep like he used to,getting up in the middle of the night and did so much to make the last year as good as possible for him.
As Rachel wrote on her Devils Facebook page,Teddy would sleep in her lap as we watched the Devils games,snoring away,yet being a constant presence with the two of us.
It wasn't all wonderful,Teddy spent most of his life rarely barking and in the late years he barked more.
That was painful as his bark was an unpleasant shrill ear piercer as we called it here.
Teddy came to us by a fluke.I had always wanted a pug,they seemed to be so family friendly and full of spirit-Teddy proved to be just that.
He had been passed around and only a note from a person that worked with Cherie got us the opportunity.
I don't know if we were his last hope,but we were going to be his last stop.
You read about "Forever Dogs"-Teddy was going to be our forever dog,to the point of giving up things if it had to be for him to keep his home with us.
The last day or two were pretty good as I reflect.
Teddy got to eat what might have been his favorite food-pizza crusts,he played with Rachel and for a while on what proved to be his last day,he wanted up on the couch with me,like the good times,one final time.
Looking back without being too spiritual,maybe in an unconscious way,he knew and wanted a few last memories.
The world is a different place for me since that little guy scrambled into my car 13 years ago.
My son is grown and gone,my daughter is old enough to drive,I'm older and not what I once was in some ways.
One thing is for sure-no one that ever met Teddy didn't like him and my and my family's life will never be the same.
It cannot be.When you are touched this deeply,your life is changed.
But thanks,Teddy-you changed me for the better.....
The title of this post is because of the theme of the TV show"Courtship of Eddie's father".
Often times,someone would sing this song in "Teddy voice" and sing the opening line with the addendum of my name.
Thanks to everyone for their kind words,thoughts and even prayers for my family and me.
They truly are appreciated.
Photo Credits;Cherie and Rachel Heimberger
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