I know I have introduced you all to Comet before. He is one of the main characters in my middle grade series, Hunter & Comet. I have just started writing the first one, but I have a few books planned out…if the series takes off.
When my aunt died and my cousins “moved in” (I use quotes because they were over five days a week and slept over three nights a week), Comet tagged along, as well. Otherwise he would have had no company all day while my uncle was at work.
Hunter, my fat cat, and Comet acted as though they hated each other, but they loved each other deep down. One time, Comet didn’t come over for a whole week and Hunter did notice. The first day Comet came back, the two went right up to each other and Hunter gave him a pat on the head (without his claws). Comet didn’t growl at him, either.
The cat and dog were so funny together and it was always great to come up with random scenarios about what the two of them were doing and saying to each other. I loved to watch them interact with each other. This is where I came up with my idea for a novel series. It’s all based on Hunter and Comet from their point of view.
Comet was nick-named (by my mother) Sir Barksalot. As you can probably guess, Comet loved to hear himself talk. I always wondered just how quiet he was when no one was home. Then one day, I was home alone with Comet and my granddad came by. I knew because I heard Comet barking. Granddad said, “It’s funny because when I come by when no one is home, he doesn’t budge. But when someone is home, someone is here for him to protect, he acts all vicious.”
Comet also loved his bones. In his old age, he was getting a bit delusional and believed everyone was going to steal his bones. So he usually growled at you when you went near him, but he was still gentle. It just took him a moment to snap out of it. I think part of this was also because we got Chip, my mini dog, and she loved to take his bones away from him.
Comet just turned 11 this past July, which makes him 77 in dog years. However, he was still a puppy at heart. He loved to jump up on you (he was taller than me on his hind legs) and he sure ran around a lot when he was excited. It could have been because you gave him a bone or something as simple as you just saying hi to him and giving him a quick pat on the head.
However, with his old age came hardships. His hind legs had arthritis and he was recently diagnosed with cancer. The chemo treatments weren’t going too bad, but more complications were found. Comet became a hit-or-miss. He either laid on the floor without a bother or he seemed like his old self. But he stopped eating and it got to the point that my uncle had to force feed him. Comet was getting skinnier and skinnier every time I saw him. They found a blockage in his stomach.
As you can probably tell by me speaking in past tense, my inspiration of my novel series had to be put down this morning. Comet is no longer with us. They were able to help him with the blockage, but my uncle realized that Comet had been through enough. He needed to be put out of his misery.
No one is happy about the situation, but it was what was best for the dog. Comet is in a better place. We’ll all miss him, but we will certainly have no problem remembering him. He may be gone, but I am still going to go through with the series. I have plenty of memories to throw in and will be able to add in some fictional twists, as well. I think the series will be a great tribute to his 11 great years of dog-hood and being a wonderful companion and friend.
