Phil the Greyhound and Meri the Podenco: May 2017

...or those who have forgotten they even follow this blog.

I just wanted to share with you that Phil has passed. He was sick for a few months and after loads of vet visits, I had accepted that I wasn't going to be able to figure out what was causing his issues. Within 36 hours of that acceptance, my Philalicious headed for the Rainbow Bridge.

If you're interested in that story, there are 2 posts on my main blog about it.
Phil's Issues
Phil's Passing

Phil touched many lives. We had friends we didn't even know about across the world due to social media (this blog, Instagram, my personal blog) and friends of friends. Honestly, I'll never really know how many lives Phil touched and that blows my mind.

I mostly stopped updating this blog after a relationship went south and I was struggling to function from day to day so blogging just really tanked. Additionally, I was sharing Phil and Meri on instagram, which was easier.

I've had to share the news several times now and I've written about Phil a lot in the past few days. I just wanted to share what I put on the GEGR forums here for everyone else.

Yesterday, we let Phil go.
Phil had a special club of fans that he had deemed his elite.... by peeing on them.
Phil was a gluten addict and I only enabled him by never buying a bread box.
Phil would traverse some extremely treacherous terrain (aka slippery floors) for food on the counter.
Phil was a gentleman who often sported mustaches and bow ties and he celebrated Movember every year.
Phil was the most redneck dog in South Carolina because of his missing front teeth.. but only some of them.
Phil would lose his mind over getting to go on a walk or a car ride. The only thing better than walks/rides were not being supervised with a fresh loaf of bread in the house.
Phil did not choose me, he chose my ex. Phil merely tolerated me (for 5 years) as the 2-legger who smothered him with love and fed him.
Phil was the favorite granddog because he was the coolest, most relaxed dude... and he didn't bark.. and you didn't have to lean down to pet him.
Phil did NOT eat his weiner cousins although he did try to eat other small dogs.
Phil let me cry on his shoulder regularly.
Phil moved with me 5 times.
Phil did not like when the suitcases came out, so I would pack for trips at the last possible minute.
Phil's storm phobia cleared itself up when we moved to SC.
Phil enjoyed fostering too much, which led me to get a 2nd dog (Meri).
Phil was happiest when he got the entire loveseat to himself.
Phil didn't have to be told to go to his crate when I would open the freezer to give out frozen PB kongs, he just went and stared at me expectantly. If I didn't move fast enough, he would death stare me until I explained that I was staying home or he got his kong early.
Phil was camera shy, or a jerk.
Phil learned to roo after about 6 months of being retired, but very rarely did he put forth the effort to even lift his head while he would roo.
Phil used to have his own blog.
Phil would only do zoomies in the snow.
Phil loved crunchy toys, not squeaky ones.
Phil never met a stranger. Guard dog, he was not. Leanto, definitely.
Phil commandeered the guest room. It was his, he loaned it out to our company.
Phil had certain furniture that was "his" when we went to other people's houses. His chair, his spot, his bed...
Phil very rarely gave kisses (which was ok since his breath was RANK), but Phil kisses were high value for recipients.
Phil had approximately a mabillionty nicknames. Phil, Philalicious, Phil-boy, Philbo, Philbo Baggins, Baggins, Baggy Pants, Dude, Big Boy, Shithead, Asshole Dog, Stank Breath, Handsome, mein schön hund (my handsome dog), Prince Phillip, Sir Phillip, Sir Piss a Lot, Dammit!, NO!...

Phil absolutely spoiled me for any other dog ever because he was so easy and turn-key and it will be a hard competition for any other dog who comes into our family to be as good as Phil was.

Phil struggled in the end. For 3 months we investigated, to no avail. He gave me an unmistakable sign on Thursday morning and our decision to let Phil go was cemented after he had a seizure waiting on the vet to come with the meds.

Phil taught me about unconditional love and how sometimes simple things are scary. Phil taught me looooooooaaaaaadddddsss and loads about patience. Phil taught me about community and Phil was my gateway into the sighthound life. Phil touched soooo many hearts and we met so many people because he was Phil and he was a greyhound.

I'm a believer in signs and Thursday night, it rained while we were sitting outside in the screened in porch while we were talking about Phil. Rain for me is a good sign. It rained on my first date with my fiance, it rained the day we closed on our house. There are many, many times in Charleston when it is supposed to rain, but nary a drop falls on our house. I believe the rain was my sign from Phil that he made it to the Bridge... or it just rained and washed away the horribleness of the day. Either way, I know Phil is in a better place and is no longer suffering.

Despite how much I'd love to adopt another greyhound, since they just have that greyhound vibe that is so remarkable; I've told Fiance that he can pick the next dog. Really, I'm hoping this is our segue-way into 3 dogs...

Phil was one of the best dogs I could have ever asked for. In so many uncountable ways, Phil changed me and I have zero regrets about how I loved Phil and the life I gave him.