Memories of Kids and Pets

By John M. Goralka
Sacramento, CA

Getting a Dog

When my daughter was about 5 or 6 years old, she decided that she needed a dog. My daughter was/is always both persistent and creative. She would print and leave laying around lists and personality descriptions of different dog breeds. She was wearing me down.

I was a single parent with a 5 year old and 3 year old. I was also running a new Law Firm. I already did “yard duty” at the school lunch time, left early to pick them up from school and was very focused on the kids. I was completely overwhelmed but did not want to actually admit that to Elizabeth.

My Dog Zeke the Irish Setter

I had a second reason. When I was in college I adopted a beautiful, energetic Irish setter, Zeke. He was an amazing dog. Irish setters are described generally as being very high strung. Zeke was not, but he was exceedingly friendly. When I was going to rent out a former home which had a metal gate that a guest had to pass through to get to the yard and front door to enter, they would have to pass by Zeke. I came home to a note which read: “Love the house, we would not have gone in to the yard, but your dog was so very inviting and friendly…”

I ran with Zeke almost every day until he was too old. When he collapsed halfway around the course, I attached his leash to a pole so he could lay in the shade while I sprinted home to get the truck for Zeke. After that, I left him at home when I went for a run. Each time I ran, he would tear up by the roots and destroy a large plant in my yard. That was Zeke’s way of communicating his displeasure at being left home. I kept him after he became blind and had hip dysplasia so he could not use his back legs. I knew he was blind when he walked into the closed garage door. He knew the yard and furniture in the house so I did not know until then that he lost his vision. I was so terribly heartbroken when I finally put him down, that I did not have the emotional strength for another dog.

Elizabeth was so very persistent the only solution I could only think was “I’m so very busy now, let’s talk about this again as we get closer to the end of the year”. This worked perfectly, no requests, discussions, random dog pictures or breed description to be found to remind me. Then around mid-November, I’m driving Elizabeth to school. She is in her car seat at the backseat of the car and in a quiet moment she says: “Dad, we have to start picking names…”

I had no idea what she was talking about. I thought that I had at least 15 more years until she had children. I asked what she meant. “Dad, you said we could get a dog at the end of the year… “ . I was outmaneuvered, out negotiated and out-lawyered by my 5 year old daughter.

Our Dog Buddy the Golden Retriever

I found a Golden Retriever pup in time for Christmas. I hid him at my neighbor’s across the street until Christmas (Thank you Ron and Bonnie!). Buddy was the last Christmas present Liz received that year. I put him in a wrapped box that I brought in from the garage after all the presents were opened.

Buddy was a great dog, but he was destructive at the beginning. As a puppy, he chewed and destroyed my pool filter twice, my yard lights, sprinkler system, and the yard furniture. He did not enjoy “fetching” a ball or any other object. You would toss the ball and he would look up with an expression… What do you expect me to do?

I ran with Buddy most days. My knee is missing an ACL and 90% of one meniscus and 70 % of the other meniscus. Buddy was a big dog when he grew up and was trained to follow me very closely on runs and only turn on my command for directions, if Buddy turned the wrong way or unexpectedly stopped, my knee would pop out of the socket.

Our Dog Spike

As time went by, Elisabeth decided we needed another dog. “Patrick needs his own, very important for a boy to grow up”. “Buddy needs company, he is alone all day by himself.” I knew I was outmatched much earlier than before.

That Christmas, Patrick’s last present was Spike. My kids each named the respective dogs. When I returned home on Spike’s first day in the yard, I saw Spike’s excitement and tail wagging with one of my Hawaiian plants in the yard. Years ago, when you flew home from Hawaii you could buy a cutting of a Hawaiian tropical plant for your backyard at the Hawaii airport for a few dollars. I had been doing that for years which included Red ginger and Plumeria. And so it began again. Spike always focused his destruction on my plants, but never went for anything else in the yard.

Spike would play fetch for hours non-stop. If he did not get enough attention, he would play catch or fetch by himself. He would carry a soccer ball to the top of the hill in the backyard. He would then nudge the ball until it rolled into the pool and floated out to the middle. Spike would then charge in, swim to the ball, and bring it to the side of the pool. Spike would take the ball to the exact same spot at the top of the hill. He would then nudge the ball and begin again for hours at the time.

I ran with Buddy and Spike together almost every day, 3 to 5 miles. While they were very playful, they were all business and very focused on our runs. If either one stopped or turned the wrong way, my knee would be torn apart.

Treasured Family Members

Buddy and Spike were treasured members of our family for 17 years. A long time for Goldens. My kids then grew up and left for college. The house was too quiet for me, and I was very glad to have Buddy and Spike to keep me company. I lost Buddy first, having to put him down as his health failed. I was totally heartbroken and cried for a long time.

Spike lasted almost a year longer. We still ran most days and would play fetch for an hour or so each evening. One night I noticed blood on the soccer ball as he returned it for the next toss. He had developed cancer in his nose. He lasted a few more months. I came home from work one night and he was not waiting for me. I had worked late, so it was very dark. I unsuccessfully looked for Spike in the yard with a flashlight. I found him under the tree the next day. I could barely carry him to the truck to take him to the vet.

I still see Buddy and Spike in the corner of my eye from time to time. Buddy and Spike provide many wonderful memories of our families growing up – far more than mentioned here. They each had such unique and different personalities which added to the fun. We were blessed for the time together.

John Goralka is the lead attorney and founder of the Goralka Law Firm, P.C., and is an experienced Sacramento estate planning and tax planning lawyer.

For help in Sacramento with estate planning or tax planning, please contact our office.