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Our most beloved Sammy Sam, You were not a typical dog; you were a Wookie, a cat, a whale, a shark, but most of all, your Dad and I remember you as our good little bear. Memories of you occupy a special place in our hearts and having you in our life has meant more to us than we could have predicted. When we started the adoption process in May of 2011, we did our diligence by reading up on the available dogs on RAGOM’s website, and we met some of them at the meet-and-greets all over the Cities. Somehow, you stood out in my eyes, and it was not just because of your pointy ears, though they were definitely attention-getters. The gist of it was simply that we had what you needed—a low-key, adult-only home where you would be the focus of our devotion—because rescue is about finding loving forever homes that suit the dogs, not how to make every dog fit a family or situation in particular. Whatever our expectations were, we could not help falling in love with you and vowed to be your loving forever home on June 5, 2011. While we were confident that we could provide for all your needs and make you happy, you proved to be a perfect fit for us as well. Your Dad and I were delighted to find that you shared our passion for peaceful, uninterrupted, unmitigated slumber, regardless of what the mean old clock said. But of the three of us, you were the champion sleeper and would have happily dozed until 1 p.m. if we let you. Although it was never our intention to ruin your morning, skipping your medication was simply not an option. It took us a while, but we did finally learn that we could help Mr. Grumpy blossom into a smiley cutie pie if we garnished your breakfast kibble with some pan-fried ground beef, in addition to your cream cheese balls of pills.
You always made us laugh with where and how you chose to sleep. Even though you had multiple beds of various varieties around the house, your favorite snoozing spot by far was on the bare carpet in your Dad’s office, preferably directly under his chair, right between the wheels. You very generously contributed to his productivity with the soothing sound of your breathing as well as the occasional muffled bark while you were dreaming.
One of the most exquisite dogs ever born, you never failed to bewitch people with your physical beauty: your soft, fluffy, luxuriant coat of fur; your long, flowing feathering; your pointy, expressive ears; your round puppy dog eyes; and your sweet, effortlessly charming smile. They would always praise you for your looks and try to pet you, as they would other dogs. But character-wise, you were full of mystery and surprise, and only those who knew you well would not mistake your quirks for antisocial behavior. Your friends would appreciate your vote of confidence when you would walk up to them and immediately turn your back around to stand guard at their feet, whereas strangers would misunderstand your motivation and think you rude or odd. Similarly, you instigated pets and snuggles on your own terms, rightly earning the title “The Dog Who Walked Away From Pets.” That said, you were a marvelous snuggle bear when the whim struck you, and we could not get enough of your fuzzy cuteness.
Among your quirks was your reluctance to walk on linoleum, which was ironically convenient for me and your Dad because you would naturally stay out of the kitchen while we cooked. You also hardly begged at the table, preferring to hang out just behind one of our chairs, though you would occasionally run your nose along the table edge when beef was served.
Of course, you were adequately rewarded for your good behavior. Still, true to your mysterious nature, you had us scratching our heads when you would sometimes decline your treats. And then there were times when you carried a beef trachea in your mouth, frantically hunting for a place in the house to hide your treasure and grunting like a humpback whale as you scratched at your doggie bed, as if you were digging up dirt in the garden. Your goofy antics miraculously dissolved our suddenly inconsequential human troubles into thin air.
We were very fortunate—and thankful—that the mild climate on the Oregon coast allowed us to take you with us wherever we went, and you were the best 24-7 companion we could have asked for, always eager to come for a car ride and happy to return home afterward.
Lounging at home was our mutual favorite pastime, partly to let you recuperate between our fun trips to the beach. We loved to watch you transform on the beach from a leisurely walker into an enthusiastic, animated jogger. You would sniff every piece of driftwood you came across and gallop with all your puppy heart on the soft sand, despite your geriatric body’s protest and without a care of the soreness you might feel in the following days. Although your gait was made awkward by spondylosis, your windswept face beamed with such unfettered bliss and youthful ardor that it would only be natural to indulge you more.
Parks with sweet-smelling grass ranked third on your list of happy places. On days when walking seemed too strenuous and “happiness is what makes your nose come alive” became your motto, ambling through parks in search of interesting scents provided just the right amount of stimulation.
The inevitable inched closer and closer into our life during the fall of 2013 when your little body grew irreversibly weary. Your Dad and I made the heartwrenching—albeit rational—decision to let you go lest the unnecessary suffering should set in, but not before you got to enjoy a hearty meal of the braised beef you had been pining for and another stroll on your favorite beach. It was a peaceful October afternoon and you still had a hint of spark in you while you gingerly climbed over a pile of driftwood. As dusk fell quietly over us and the seagulls flew out to the ocean for the night, you went to sleep on Dr. Eric’s special quilt, cuddled with your forever family in a spot now known as Sammy’s beach. It has been over six months since we said goodbye, but we still remember everything about you, like you were still with us a moment ago. I especially miss the way you would absentmindedly discover us in a room and, in your exhilaration, proceed to light up the whole place with your glorious signature Sammy smile.
We are truly grateful to Joyce of Keokuk Humane Society for taking you in when your owner surrendered you; to RAGOM for saying yes when Joyce contacted them; and to Julie and Jeff, your RAGOM foster parents, for nurturing you and taking a leap of faith with us. We also want to thank your first RAGOM adoptive family for loving you enough to recognize they were not the right fit for you. Without all of them, we would never have met you. Knowing you were a senior and the time we had together might be short, we needed to love and cherish and spoil you every single day, and we are so glad we were able to accomplish that. In return, you enriched our life and brought out the best in us, and yes, we know you loved us too in your unique way. Until we meet again at the Rainbow Bridge, we shall treasure your memory and rescue more doggies in need, just as you once were. Your Forever Mom and Dad
“They can be eccentric, slow afoot, even grouchy. But dogs live out their final days with a humility and grace we all could learn from.” |
