VILLAGE PET PAGES

By Joy and Brian Pape

Goodbye Noah…But Not Forgotten

BY RYAN DAVIS

My sweet Noah crossed the rainbow bridge today, he died peacefully in my arms blessing me with one more kiss before he passed. I imagine he’s in dog heaven, splashed in sunlight, wrapped in a cozy blanket waiting for me.

I got Noah when I was splitting time between San Francisco and New York. In short order Noah would become the most important thing in my life. He was my rock. Always there for me, my best and loyal friend, offering me his unconditional love. In return, I aimed to give him the best life a dog could imagine.

Noah was a special dog—he was hairless, took day long naps and had “stomach issues” leading to 4 a.m. wake up calls with regularity (something I’ll forever miss). Noah was the toughest, most resilient thing I’ve ever encountered. When they discovered a spindle cell sarcoma in his mouth in 2018, doctors said he was going to die. Noah kicked its ass and thrived for five more years. My sweet boy fought to be by my side, no matter what it took.

Old age began to kick in during the last six months. Strangely, in April he hiked six miles with me like it was nothing. It was like he knew it was time for summer and he had to get back into swimming shape. Now in retrospect, I think Noah used what he had left in his frail body to be by my side one final time. Wherever I was, he wanted to be—he was the most loyal companion.

In May, Noah had a stroke and things started to decline quickly. Strokes in dogs are not generally devastating. My most resilient boy was no longer resilient however. My other dog, Prince, started being sweeter to him, constantly sniffing him and checking up on him—dogs always know when their buddies are hurting. Then Noah quit eating, not even a ribeye or a cheeseburger was appealing to him. I knew it was time to say goodbye.

Now I sit in my office and my sweet baby’s sun-drenched bed is empty and I have tears in my eyes and a massive hole in my heart, wishing I could get a couple more kisses, tail wags and more cuddles from my baby. I love you my Noah boy, my most loyal and loving friend, and I’ll miss you forever.

Note from Joy and Brian
We walk the Hudson River Esplanade most every morning. That’s where we met Ryan and his sweet dog, Prince. When he sees us coming, his tail wags and he walks straight to us, puts his mouth gently to our hands for his treat, looks up, straight into our eyes and we connect. It’s heartwarming. Then, right after Noah’s passing, Prince did the same but something was different. In time, he was back to the Prince we knew. He’s confident and we’re connecting again.

 

Hello Rory…Welcome to the Village

Rory has been waiting to be welcomed in The Village View for too long. From the time we laid eyes on this little black puppy, we told his parents we wanted to do an article on him.

Besides his adorable personality and looks, we learned that he is a Tibetan Terrier. That piqued our interest. We found that Tibetan Terriers aren’t actually in the terrier family. You might have seen them on dog shows with really long hair – a traditional look that dates back to the Tibetan monks who used to keep Tibetan Terriers as companions.

But back to Rory and his “parents,“ Haley and Drew Dresser. Rory is a seven-month-old little boy that we’ve gotten to know. Even when he’s frolicking with other dogs, he leaves his playmates, comes to us and immediately sits down and looks up at us for his loving and, okay, his treats. We think he may also be saying…Is it time for my article yet?

We had a few questions for Haley and Drew.

What were you looking for in your new puppy?

A loyal, smart, dog that could be flexible with our changing lifestyle and be that always-happy presence. Haley grew up with a Tibetan Terrier, so we knew the breed was a great fit for us. We spoke with other Tibetan Terrier owners in the city and a few recommended Kensington Terriers in Stowe, VT.

Why did you name him Rory?

Rory is short for ‘Aurora’ which is where we got married July 9, 2022, just six months before getting Rory!
How does Rory get along with other dogs?

Rory loves dogs of all sizes, breeds, and ages. He is still working on his ability to share his favorite bones, but even some humans don’t like giving up their favorite treat! When he spots a new doggie pal, Rory drops to the ground and waits for them to approach. It’s his quirky way of greeting them.
Favorite thing to do and places to go?

Rory loves taking walks along the West Side Highway, rolling in the grass, playing fetch, meeting new doggy friends and a good midday nap. He loves showing off his ability to sit and do ‘paw’ too. Among his treasure trove of toys, the one that truly steals his heart is a dumpling. We affectionately call it his “emotional support dumpling” because it’s his loyal sidekick.

Rory’s stomping ground is the Hudson River Park where there are endless walkers, runners and new dogs to play with. As a grass lover, Rory prefers Pier 45 and as a puppy with a lot of energy, he is starting to get introduced to the Leroy St. Dog Park.

His favorite restaurant?

Rory loves Leitao’s outdoor patio. Frank or Nunu bring him a bowl of water and Rory gets to watch the world go by while his parents eat incredible Portuguese food and drink great cocktails and beer.

What do you love most about Rory?

His is fun, playful, curious, thoughtful, loyal and really smart. If you see us on the WSH, feel free to come say hi!
Joy and Brian Pape are Founders and Contributors who love all creatures great and small and understand many of you do too. This section is not limited to our furry and feathery friends in the Village, but other pets you may want us to meet on our Village streets. Please send up ideas about what you would like to read and share about so we can all have some fun while we learn about our Villagers.

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Joy and Brian Pape are Founders and Contributors who love all creatures great and small and understand many of you do too. This section is not limited to our furry and feathery friends in the Village, but other pets you may want us to meet on our Village streets. Please do send up ideas about what you would like to read and share about so we can all have some fun while we learn about our Villagers.