The Story of Turbo

It was a Saturday in February. Valentines day was coming up and I had decided to get my then boyfriend (BF) a dog for the special day.  I went to animal control in Chattanooga and began searching the kennel. Of course, my soft heart was overwhelmed.  I began crying. I knew I couldn't take them all. I was looking for a small dog that had personality. The first few dogs I looked at were nervous and just shivered. Then one dog caught my eye, he was jumping up on the door and wagging his tail.  I said, let me see that one.  He was great. I asked how big he'd get (by the way I didn't even know he was a he until I got home with him, because I was crying so hard to check under the hood).  The worker knew I wanted a small dog and told me "that's as big as he's going to get".  He came up about mid way between my ankle and my knee and probably weighed about 15lbs. Well, we all know now that he lived in a house of lies, but I am sure glad he did. I could just love that sweet face all day long.

Sleeping he looks like a baby polar bear

I took the dog back to my apartment and gave him a good bath.  I invited BF over to surprise him.  Within seconds, the new pup had a name, Turbo. BF knew that he would name his next dog Turbo after the abita brewery's beer, Turbo Dog Beer.  (Thankfully Turbo was fast so I didn't have to explain this.)

Turbo started his new life off by living in a frat house.  He got to pre-rinse all the dishes. Sometimes he cleaned them to well and BF would see someone fix a plate of food on the dish he just licked clean. HA.  He snatched food off plates, and there were always people around to give him attention. Not to mention, if he had an accident, well, it probably didn't matter, he lived with a bunch of men.  Whenever Turbo visited me at my apartment, he stayed right beside me.  Even if it meant laying on me while I studied.

Within the next year, BF moved out of the frat house and into an apartment. His roommate's Dad signed for the apartment and insisted that Turbo did not take up residence with them.  By then, I was rooming with a girl who was allergic to dogs. I wasn't able to take him. BF's mom had a dog that didn't like Turbo very much, so that wasn't an option. The only option was my mom and dad,  and I hated to ask that of them.  Turbo went to live with them until we could find another option.  We began asking around if anyone wanted a dog.  (Thankfully FB didn't exist then because he probably would've been snatched up.) After some reluctance, my Grandmother's friend, Kaye, said she would take him.  We drove to her house, I said my good byes, and we drove off as I bawled.  I made the trip back from Nashville to Chattanooga to go back to school. That night, I called my mom to ask if she had talked Kaye to check on Turbo.  She said I don't have to, he's right here.  Well, Kaye wanted Turbo to be an outside dog in a kennel/run.  Turbo wasn't so keen on that idea. He whined and dug until she said enough.  My mom went and picked him back up.  Thankfully, my mom and dad said they'd keep him until BF and I graduated college and got married.  I was graduating that year. Right before my graduation, BF and I called it quits.  Well he called it quits, I just went along with it. HA. Since Turbo was in my custody, he was mine to keep. He was cool with that plan.

 his girlfriend. he went through girlfriends so fast...he usually licked them to death. 

Halloween

 Christmas

 My cat, Cookie, was his first fur roomie. She taught him how to love cats.

After college, Turbo and I lived with my parents for a year or so, until we moved into an apartment with my friend Joe.  We lived about 10 minutes from a dog park, so everyday, I got off work at 3:30 and we headed to the dog park.  Going to the park daily, you tend to see the same people and get to know them. I met a lady named Marie who had a golden retriever.  We talked a lot.  One day she introduced me to this guy who lived in her neighborhood. I had seen this guy from time to time. He had 2 dogs and he was always on the phone, so I had never talked to him (little did I know this guy was working in sales and wasn't officially off the clock). This guy's name was Damien. We all know how that story ended... in marriage.

I took Turbo everywhere. Even to downtown Franklin's Octoberfest. He was a hit with the kids. He even made it in the newspaper. He was my best friend. We were like peas and carrots.

Turbo decided he needed a fur roomie and he found one. While at the dog park one day, which backs up to the local animal control, Turbo spotted a friend. I assume someone dropped off the little cat for animal control to take in.  She ended up coming back home with us, and she became Joe's cat, Niki. Niki and Turbo were buddies.  They loved each other.  Other things Turbo loved, running and playing with friends at the dog park and going on long hikes at the warner parks. Then ending the day with a little dip in the creek.

Turbo with Damien's dog Maggie and his roomate's dog, Ellie

After dating for a few months Damien informed me he was moving to Virginia for work. Before he moved away, I made him a photo book of me and Turbo.  I didn't know if we'd stay together, so this was my way of giving him a token of love.  (he came back 1 year later in case you were wondering)

One day, Turbo gave me quite a scare. We were hiking, and he was off leash. A deer crossed our path and Turbo decided he was up for a little game of chase. He was out of my eye sight. I yelled and yelled for him. I cried thinking I'd never see him again as I could hear cars. I just knew he'd chase it right into traffic. I just sat down in defeat.  Well, of course, he came back.  I hugged him and scolded him.  We never really went on that trail again.

Joe decided to buy a house in a part of town, that was too far from my work. I found another roommate and rented a house.  She had a girl dog about Turbo's age named Billie.  Turbo and Billie became fast friends.  I would always come home every day at lunch and let them out. One day, the weather was really nice and I decided that I would leave them in the backyard.  Damien would be at my house soon and I got off work shortly there after.  When he got to the house, he called me. I said, can you let the dogs in.  He was confused, they weren't in the backyard.  He found the spot where they dug and escaped under the fence.  I rushed home in a panic.  I got to the house and began yelling for the escapees.  They came running.  I was so relieved.  I never left them out again.  Turbo proved to be quite the digger. (I don't know how I don't have a pic of him and Billie.)

Damien and I got engaged. Damien made it a family affair when he proposed and Turbo was right there.  He was about 4 years old in this picture.

 Dog Park fun

Our wedding was approaching.  The dog he took to the park all the time became his former roommates' when he moved to Virginia for a year.  He didn't know his living situation or work schedule, so he thought Maggie would prefer to stay with her dog buddy, Ellie.  We decided Turbo would need a friend. We scoured Petfinder looking for the right pet. We found one that peeked our interest.  We went for a meet and greet and brought Turbo.  Turbo seemed not to really care and they seemed to be fine with each other, and that dog became Sophie.  Our little momma to Turbo. Even though Turbo was about 5 years her senior, she treated him like her puppy.  Always cleaning his eyes, mouth and ears. She loves to lick him.

We moved further from the dog park when we got married, so we didn't go like we once did. Nor did we get to take the dogs hiking.  Thankfully we had a huge yard and a subdivision with lots of sidewalks and connections to other neighborhoods.  Turbo and Sophie could walk for days and days.  Often times, I would get stopped on my walks and would be asked what kind of dog is that, "he is beautiful".  I would always smile.  Turbo won everyone over.  Even if it was someone who didn't like dogs, they liked Turbo.  Our new neighbors had 3 little kids when we moved in (later they added 2 more) and they loved Turbo, one even called him Burbo.  Turbo loved all the attention he got from people. If you weren't petting him, he would stick his nose in your crotch to get your attention. He is a snuggler, a lover and a mud lover.

When we had kids, of course, things changed. We brought Dylan home and you could tell Turbo was intrigued and curious. The second Dylan filled his diaper, the sound alone ran him out of the room.  He wasn't crazy about Dylan. He'd leave the room if Dylan got too wild.  He wouldn't play with him, but by this time he was 8 almost 9. He had never done this kid thing before.  As Dylan got older, he tolerated him more.

playing in the snow

playing in the leaves

Dylan and Eliza rubbing Turbo down

Natalie came along and Turbo seemed to warm up to her faster. He was much more patient with her.  This wasn't his first rodeo. While he couldn't hear her fill her pants since he had gone a little deaf, he somehow sensed when it happened and left the room as if to say, I'm not changing that.  Natalie could never hug Turbo enough. She is just like me, a little animal lover. She loving says oh Turbo and calls him old man.

Other things that made him nervous, other than kids, was fireworks and thunder. I dreaded any holiday in spring hill. Every holiday meant fireworks.  I kid you not, memorial day, boom, july 4, boom, christmas, boom, new years, boom. Turbo would not dare make his way out if he had heard fireworks within the last hour.  Then there were some nights he wanted out, so I'd put him out.  Then he wouldn't want to come back in. I'd storm off to bed mad, "fine, just stay out there", then I'd flash back to the time he dug out of the fence and I'd go back outside to retrieve him.  It would end up with me chasing him around the yard and him thinking it was all a game.  I'd be so mad.  I am sure he chuckled it up. "Yea, I got her to chase me."

Imagine me outside at midnight, trying to find him in this yard at night.  What a sight!

I remember shortly before we moved, I went outside to get him. He had been outside sunning.  When I looked, there was no Turbo. Ordinarlly, I would say he's hiding under one of our evergreen trees, but the gate was opened. I panicked. He didn't have a collar and he was deaf. How would he hear me yell for him?  I got the kids and we got in the car. I followed the creek line as that's where Turbo usually walked when he got out. I stopped to ask people if they had seem him. You can guess what I was doing, yep, crying. Dylan was upset too. Mostly because he saw me crying. I was about to run out of gas so I left the neighborhood to get some. On the way back in, I see 2 women walking him.  I jump out of the car and wrap my arms around him and explained that someone didn't close our gates and I'm not a bad owner.  My heart was happy that something bad didn't happen to him.

In Feb 2013, we decided to add to our fur babies. We decided on a golden doodle. We wanted a puppy because we knew Turbo wasn't going to be with us much longer.  We wanted him to train the puppy.  I originally wanted a female because I didn't want Turbo to feel like we were replacing him or that his manhood was being tested.  Well we were at the end of the picks.  We either were going to get a curly red girl or a boy.  We opted for the boy, and that is Griffin.  Turbo was not a fan of Griffin once he became active and knew he could pester him.  Griffin would latch onto his tail and not let go. Turbo would let out a big bark to voice his displeasure.  Then there were times were Turbo would get frisky and play with Griffin. That makes my heart happy. 

Griffin, Turbo and Sophie having a lazy day

Damien works at Mars and they are building the new corporate headquarters for Mars in Spring Hill.  Associates got a chance to bring a pet in to be photographed to grace the walls of the new facility. He took Turbo so I could have some professional photos of him done.  He looked beautiful, so royal.  I hope he makes the wall. I can't wait to see if he does. 

In July 2013, we left our home in Spring Hill and moved to Cleveland.  We lost our huge back yard and now, our back yard is tiny (at first I didn't like this but I think God knew Turbo would need a small yard since he gets lost easily now). Thankfully we live on a cul de sac with a large front/side yard.  We found the greenway. All the dogs love it.  We drop Dylan off at school, and on good days, Natalie and I take the dogs for their morning walk.  We always get great compliments on the dogs.  People are always surprised to hear that Turbo was 15.  What? He looks like a puppy, they say. ( I think he still looks like a puppy until you see his eyes. They are clouded over with cataracts now). The neighborhood kids have grown to love him too.  He loves going out and running with them but he hasn't done that in a few months.  He did get to enjoy his first real snow, about 9 inches.  My little husky/ retriever mix loves the cold. (that reminds me, we got a DNA test for him. It came back husky, jack russell and cocker spaniel. Nah, I am not believing it. I stills say husky and retriever.)

on the greenway

Griffin and Turbo romping around in the snow

Watching him age, he has done it with grace. The last few weeks, I have noticed his health getting worse.  One day, he wouldn't get out of bed. I lost it.  I cried so hard.  I started him on some joint granules and oiling him.  He seemed to improve.  Then this week, he woke up and he was running into walls and tables. He can't see me anymore.  I think he can make out shadows of things when he gets close but that's it.  He seems to have gotten his hearing back a little bit.  I credit this to the oil I was diffusing in our room at night to help him. One of the calming blends is linked to helping with hearing loss.  He can hear me clap again.  I find that he's drinking constantly which means he needs to go out more. Also, he's pacing the house more.  I follow him around in the middle of the night. I am thankful that I wake up when I hear his nails on the hardwood. It's so funny what we wake up for.  I wake up for my kids and for Turbo. Damien could sing in the shower and I wouldn't wake up.  I have been praying that God takes him home soon.  I don't want to have to make any decisions about putting him to sleep.  My heart would burst into a 1000 pieces.  Once I was walking through petsmart and decided to go out the vet side as it was raining and closer to my car. As I passed through the lobby, a lady was sobbing. I just knew what had happened and I lost it.  Imagine what I will be like if it's my own. I pray God answers my prayer with a yes.  As I am typing this I am crying, just thinking of it.  Turbo has been a part of my life since my junior year in college.  In August, that will be 15.5 years. I could not imagine a dog that as sweet as him, as loyal as he is.  He has been my best friend at the lowest points of my life.  He has been my confidant.  He keeps secrets amazingly well. He's been my bed buddy when Damien traveled and when he wasn't traveling.  He's quite a bed hog.  I wouldn't trade a second of our time with him. I am so thankful that the guy at animal control lied to me about his size.  I am thankful that my then BF wanted a dog.  I am thankful for Maggie's Bark Park in Franklin where Turbo met many fur friends and I met my soul mate.  Thank you Turbo for all the memories. All the times you listened to me cry and for making my life complete. Loving you has been an honor and a treasure. I  know you are not gone yet, and I will take every chance to show you the love you deserve. I pray I get to see you on the other side of the rainbow bridge, with a new body that allows you to run and play with me again. Thanks friend. You are the best! If I could I would keep you forever!