On that summers day in August 2016, we chose you….. or should I say you chose us, as you waddled away from your brothers and sisters into Zachary’s arms.
From that point on, you just fit into our family perfectly. Always up for an adventure, if you heard the click of your leash you would leap with joy. If we were going somewhere without you, you would patiently wait at the top of the stairs until we all came home, wagging your tail with excitement at the first sight. You were happiest at the trailer with us, running free in the open woods -but even then you’d never go too far ahead, stopping to check on us and making sure we were close behind.
You were clearly Zachary’s dog. You were there when he started his first day of kindergarten; you’ve listened to his many stories and even caught a few tears in your fur; you would let him do ANYTHING with you and were so patient and gentle. You followed him everywhere.
You shared in our family’s announcement when we welcomed Alexander and from that moment on you kept a close eye on him too. As he grew, you would be watching to make sure he was ok, alerting us if he needed our attention and eager to play whatever game he wanted with you.
You were the boys protector and you made sure everyone knew it. In the evening you would lay between their bedrooms, keeping a close eye and ear on them. Even though you weren’t a large dog, you had a large personality.
You most certainly had a few quirks, that could drive any family crazy, yet somehow those are the things we notice missing the most right now. Like that viciously loud bark whenever someone approached our house- who am I kidding whenever someone dared to walk on our side of the street. There was no other dog who would eat his food the same way as you – stringing it ALL across the floor. Or the way you would steal the boys toys and chew on them- “little people sets” and hockey pucks had to be your favourite. Or what about the treasures you would find and claim as your own, dropping beside your food bowl in hopes nobody would notice – such as an odd sock, small toy, or the most random objects that you found. And the way you would suck on pillows or blankets! But now, none of that seems to matter.
The house somehow feels a little quieter, and a little more empty. We don’t hear the gentle snore next to our bed at night; or the sound of your nails sneaking down the hall in the early hours, we don’t see your excitement to be goalie when the mini sticks come out or the way you would be excited to see the boys waking up. You don’t sit at the top of the stairs waiting for us to come home. Zachary and Alexander have lost their best friend -and we had no time to prepare them for that.
If only we had known it would be our last. You were healthy, and full of life until the moment you weren’t. For that we are thankful. No pain. No suffering. As every other typical day you waited for us to come home, wagging your tail to welcome us upon our return. You ran outside to pee while we went about our daily tasks. And then just as you did on that day in August 2016, you once again chose Zachary as your place of comfort and decided it was time for your final rest there beside his bedroom door.
It all happened within a single moment, yet we are so grateful for the 9.5 years of moments you have left us with.
In our hearts you’ll live forever, until we meet again!
Pet parents: Dean and Susan
Siblings: Zachary and Alexander
Favourite toys: Hockey pucks
Birth/gotcha date: 2016-07-17
Death date: 2026-01-30
Favourite Activity: Running in the woods
Favourite food: He wasn’t given a lot of people food but he knew whose chair to sit under at the supper table 😉
Least favourite thing: Swimming and taking a bath
