Remembering Rufus
10th December 2011 to 17th July 2024
Sadly, Rufus was diagnosed with intermediate lymphoma in May. Although he had a few 'blips' along the way, Rufus seemed able to bounce back each time, until the end came on Wednesday 17th July. After 2 years and 6 months together, we are obviously heartbroken. But we have so many happy memories of Rufus the Dufus, after adopting him through South Yorkshire English Springer Spaniel Rescue.
Rufus came to us in February 2022 and the bond was immediate. When we got Rufus home for the first time, he needed a good bath. As soon as he was dry, he sauntered down the stairs, straight into his new bed and crashed out in a splendid spaniel sprawl. He knew he was home! Two days later, we had friends round for a birthday meal and our friends commented how lovely it was to see Rufus make himself at home - he had jumped up on the chair for the first time and was sprawling!
After arriving somewhat skinny, Rufus’s health soon improved and he put on weight and muscle. Also, a few damaged teeth needed to come out. At the start of 2024, a mass-cell tumour was detected and removed from his stomach.
Rufus bonded with Tess quickly and you could always find Rufus on Tess's bed, with Tess squeezed in beside him. After Fred (our previous dog), we said that we had “won the spaniel lottery again” with Rufus.
Rufus had the ability to get into some mischief, such as shimmying under the garden-fence into next-door's garden, the newly painted fence that is! Rufus was a lovely colour of red cedar! He also had the ability to dig up bulbs and plants and eat them. On subsequent trips to the vet's, the vet would immediately ask “What have you been eating now, Rufus?”. However, Rufus had his uses in the garden too. Before we got him, I had asked for a wild rosebush to be removed, only to be told that it was fine and should stay. During his first week, Rufus got scratched by one of the thorns, and out the rosebush came without delay.
Rufus had the most gorgeous curls on his head, and I kept commenting that I spent a fortune on perms in the 1980s and still never managed such lovely curls. When he was groomed, we always asked for a good trim, but leave the curls.
Our house is now too quiet without him. He was not at all gracious on the stairs and would make such a racket when going up or down, although his waddling gait was an amusing sight. Rufus knew where the treats were kept and made sure you heard him when he wanted some. He loved to sprawl on the dog-beds, sofa or our bed - in fact anywhere.
After he was diagnosed, Rufus had a 'Summer of Fun' list with Tess, which created many happy memories, in particular the “magic chicken window”, puppucino drive-through, fish & chips and paddle in the sea. We also had trips to the ice-cream shop, brunch at a cafe, barbeque and pool-party.
Rufus very much enjoyed his life.
He was such a happy boy and his loss has left a massive hole in our hearts.
Rosanne & David 