I remember this Shakespearean line that I studied in high school when someone passes on. The entire quote is when Horatio is left alone with the bodies all around him. He looks down at his friend and says, ‘Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince,/And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.’ ~ Hamlet, Act 5, Scene 2.

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All Hail King Casey

When it’s the end, I have a tendency to drift back to the beginning. I remember I was working away in my cubicle at Costco Travel in 2013. My co-worker, John, asked me a rather odd question without any context for my part.

“Hey Carlos, how much do you think it costs to kennel a dog nowadays?” he inquired.

I thought about for a hot-minute which I replied with, “I would guesstimate $100 to $125 per day. Why what’s up?”

“I need to travel to Virginia, and driving with Casey isn’t an option,” John lamented.

I suggested, “Why not fly with the dog?”

“Again, not an option,” he replied.

I fell silent for a moment. “I can care for your dog, Casey,” I offered. John was silent. I continued, “Tell ya what. Think about it for a day or two. Lemme know how you decide.”

For the purposes of stating the obvious, John accepted my offer.

It was more beneficial to me than it was to John. I was living in an spacious apartment with my sister, but it still was a roomie. To have my own space even for a grip of time, that was plenty. And John’s crib was technically closer to work but both locations were in Issaquah (Washington)

Mostly I didn’t need to change Casey’s habits. I stepped into John’s role, doing John tasks. I dispensed medicine, took him for walks on prescribed routes, fed him, and loved him. Most of y’all don’t know but I’m allergic to pet dander (dogs, cats, etc) It’s congestion only with a mild fever, but not detrimental to my life.

On the first night of dog & home sitting, I was on the couch chillaxing. I knew Casey was playing with his toys, when I heard some grunting. Mid-sip into my beer, I peered into his direction. Casey has balled up his favorite blanket, in a prone position.

We locked eyes in an AWKWARD gaze.

He continued to dominance hump his blanket; WHILE. STILL. LOOKING. AT. ME. I lifted my glass of beer to him, “Burn it down, broseph. Cheers!” I returned to the TV watching, and not looking over there until the grunting stopped.

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Dog Walker To Dog Carrier

In May 2014, I was called in to care for Casey, and John’s casa. John had demonstrated an ‘off leash’ area for Casey which was an office park with plenty of grass adjacent to NW Gilman Boulevard. Gilman is a busy 4 lane road (2 lanes each direction) I mentally noted, “Not on my watch!”

Well, during one of my walks, it started to rain as we passed the designated area where JOHN, and John alone let him run loose in the grass. I’m not gonna have an incident with Casey because I trusted a dog with safety. In addition, Casey and I were not prepared for rain with rain coats or umbrellas. So as the rain increased in volume and size of raindrops, this guy laid down on the sidewalk, in the rain! No amount of coaxing, or coercion would motivate him to move.

I scooped him up into my arms for, now a longer, walk home. Passing cars would slow down on the road which you shouldn’t, roll down their passenger window, and hollered, “Hey Mister, is your dog ok?” or “What’s wrong with your dog?”

I grunted each time, “He’s phyiscally fine, he doesn’t like to walk in the rain without his coat.”

As I neared the half-block distance to John’s crib, Casey launched himself out of my arms! He pushed off of me for momentum, and my outstretched hands couldn’t grapple the leash. He sprinted up the stairs, and stopped at the locked door.

I yelled, “Oh, you bastard!”

I slowed my roll towards the door, Casey is waiting for me. As I opened the door for us, “You’re in time-out, Casey. NO TREATS! I’m not rewarding bad behavior. What happened if you were hurt?” I held my breath and tongue mentally, “Oh, GOD, I’m my mother!“

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More Travel, More Casey Time

I purchased a home in Lake Stevens, Washington in July 2016, which I called the Bastion of Bayne. I thought moving out of the area would be the end of Casey Care. No, sir! My first stint was in September 2016.

I had (have) a fenced in grassy backyard that was (is) roomy enough for King Casey. It was easier to care for Casey with WCP around. We could take turns walking, feeding, and loving on him. I suppose I was always the “fun, weekend dog Dad”. He would sleep in my bed even though I preferred him to sleep on the blanket and bed that was brought for him.

You can not dismiss the fact most animals have a personality all to their own. For the most part, Casey owned B.o.B. when he was in town being looked after by us.

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Must Love Dogs

Besides a hit, rom-com movie starring Diane Lane and John Cusack (Must Love Dogs, 2005), it’s sometimes are pre-requisite on dating apps. John once asked me, “Since you’re not a pet owner, I’ve always wondered why did you, and why do you continue to care for Casey? I don’t want to pry but the curiosity has got the best of me.”

My friend, Kate the Great, put it best for me. While I’m not a dog dad, or fur friend owner, I am an animal advocate.

I chuckled, “Yeah, about that. I’m an animal advocate, John. While not a pet owner, I certainly want the best for animals in my orbit, and my care. I am allergic to most pets but that’s not their fault. I realized I will always outlive my fur friends, which an experience I don’t wish to subject myself to.”

Casey certainly did love one experience above all others. And no … it wasn’t the dog park. In fact, speaking of which, I was warned about taking him to those. He didn’t ‘play nice’ in the sandbox! What he loved was car rides!

Anytime I opened the door to the Sapphire Sled [my 2004 Acura RSX Type S], he would LEAP in! He would muscle his way to the driver’s seat before I could scoop him up and into the passenger seat. I mentally laughed, “This FAWKING guy.”

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ALL Dogs Go To Heaven

I cared for Casey three more times at the Bastion of Bayne [April 2017, October 2017, May 2018] I didn’t realize it but we were together for 6 times, usually about a week at a time. A month and a half to a dog’s perspective is quite long.

You really never know when the last time is thee last time for anything. In 2019, the COVID-19 global pandemic shut down everything. And I do mean everything.

In August 2024, I received word from John via the post card exchange we do, that Casey is not well. I asked him if could talk to Casey, and see if he can hang on until October 2024 when I’ll be in the Seattle area to visit with him one last time.

I had some hope that he could do that for me, but would understand if he needed to cross the rainbow bridge sooner. As luck would have it, Casey was able to hang in there. My sister, my girlfriend, and yours truly arranged a surprise visit with John and Casey late October.

Almost a half-hour or so of activity, Casey walked back to his napping bed in John’s closet. When I returned to Tempe, AZ, I received a card from John that Casey had crossed the Rainbow Bridge on October 23, 2024 – the day after I left.

Dang.

Every dog has it’s day. Casey certainly had his, always.

Good night, Sweet Prince. I said all of the above to say this, I love you.