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| Roxy @ Approx Six Months
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Nearly one month ago I lost arguably my best pup ever.
Nearly nineteen years ago I adopted my first pup. We picked him up as the runt of the litter at an unofficial rescue farm several miles west of Jax a little off I-10. They had all manner of animals—some domestic, some farm, some bizarre if memory serves me. Such as a couple fowl that looked like peacocks. I think we were referred to them as a no-kill, catch-all rescue place. We (ok, I) named him Eddie after my band-of-the-time Peal Jam. Who, by the way, will make a (possible) tour announcement in a few days. Hope so, in an area they’d almost have to add to any North American schedule. Eddie was a mixed up pup, painfully devoted to me, truly a one-person animal. He once bit a neighbor, was kicked out of a couple kennels for refusing to eat after I dropped him off and one time hid in a corner of the (big) fenced yard of a friend after we dropped him off to go to a football game. He even growled at me that time and it took some meds to calm him down enough to get in the car. Significant separation anxiety.
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Eddie&Roxy Helping Remodel
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As if that weren’t enough I again grabbed the runt of a litter that was left for dead in a field in Dallas County, IA about nine years ago. The pups were so small we had to go back to the humane society after a few weeks once the pups put on some weight. Roxy, an ode to a long-time favorite song, grew to be a beast of a fun pup. Nearly perfect in every way except for the darn jumping on people. She loved to greet people—not so fun for non-dog people. Eddie and Roxy made a terrific match–he was less than 1/2 her size, graying a little yet repeated put her in his place.
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| Roxy Trying To Be Cat-like |
Roxy learned to calm down and be a much better indoors dog from him. Even though so far apart in so many ways they were great together. Six years ago today I lost both of them in a single moment. They were the one constant I had to lean on; I’d never dreamed anything like that could happen. Two lives snuffed out in the dark of the night by a completely unsuspecting car/driver.
Both Shadow and Rosie were great pups, in their own way. Far from perfect they seemed to know their place in the home and were good companions. However, Walter stands alone as the perfect pup in our lineup. From his role as household mediator to comforter and companion he continued to fit in wherever needed through multiple moves and the loss of Shadow and Rosie. After a bit of hesitation he finally welcomed Samantha to the pack; even engaged in a bit of low-key mixing it up with her a few times once he settled her in.
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| Finally Tolerating Samantha |
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| Trails of Flagstaff Mtns |
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Walt’s Designated Seat
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Walt was the most even tempered, calm, caring pup I’ve come to know; to the point of looking back, stopping to wait for us as we’d walk him through parks or as pulled out ahead of the rest of his group. The only lab-mix I’ve known that detests water, he patiently put up with baths and gently tiptoed like a thief up to streams while going out of his way to avoid puddles.
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| Drat All These AMPS+ Guests!
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Walt possessed an almost human-like compassion for others which made him a top-notch worker for Gabriel’s Angels. His weekly trips for a number of years to Casa de los Ninos (guess that’d make him a contractor for Gabriel’s?!?!) will be his legacy.
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| Typical: Sitting Like a Person |
It was through that work we first learned of the illness that eventually wore him down. Once the kids became too much for him to handle we made a quick visit to his doc who confirmed he’d be the third of our pups to contract Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever). Following the same treatment as our other two Walt clearly responded less favorably, worsening progressively.
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| Yet Another Off-leash Dinner – AK Cabin |
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| Taking Over The Horse Fields At Rock Creek Park, DC |
Walter battled the good fight; maintaining his typically attentive, cheerful yet quiet demeanor until the end. Such a good sport he gladly went for a rather long ride to visit a new off-leash park in his final week. He’s sorely missed and will continue to be, for Walter gave far more than he ever took.
