Celebrating the Life of Rue

Rue “Poodle-Bug” Rochford died unexpectedly this morning. A handsome lad with shiny black fur and a prominent right fang, he brought his humans nine years of joy and will be dearly missed.

Initially a foster from a hoarding situation, Rue lived under the bed in the master bedroom for six months, coming out only at night while everyone in the house slept. One evening when his fosters happened to bring home a KFC 3-piece chicken combo meal, Poo lost all fear and emerged from hiding to beg for a taste.

After growing a bit more trusting, he began jump up on the bed in the dark and settle in — in his own style, which was not to softly curl in a ball at the at end of the bed but instead to pace back-and-forth on top of the covers and suddenly flop in a narcoleptic thump beside whomever emanated the most body heat. This endeared him to his foster parents who immediately adopted him as their own.

Poo enjoyed sitting in an open window with a soft breeze blowing through his fur, torturing his sister Hester simply by looking at her, and nibbling freshly sliced turkey or salmon at mealtime.

He adored his sister Renfield, with whom he wrestled each morning — tufts of hair flying — and chased up and down the hallway in the evenings after mealtime. He tolerated his brother Snap and typically ignored him unless Snap was attempting to steal Poo’s food.

Without fail, Poo would march into the living room after 9 pm each night to loudly announce that it was bedtime. Tail held high, he would stomp back down the hall, looking over his shoulder every few steps to make sure instructions to “come to bed now” were being followed.

Poo and his human Paul had a special bond. He would sit on Paul’s chest each morning after tea and listen as Paul told him his ear hair was looking especially nice that day. He’d purr very, very softly as Paul scratched his cheek and asked what he would like for breakfast. Poo listened intently to whatever Paul had to say, and they each comforted the other when times were rough.

Today in early hours, Poodle transitioned from our world to the next. It is with much sadness and disbelief we bid him farewell.