This poor guy was laying in front of our fence and I said a silent prayer asking God to make the dog go away. It was in the middle of June and HOT! 7 hours later and he was still there by the fence. We called the APS, but they were swamped with dogs. All the rescue places we called were full as well. So, with a slight coaxing of cat food, the doggie got in our car and we drove to the vets office. He wasn't chipped, was covered with ticks, and had a skin infection from fly bites. We picked him up the next day and waited the required 10 days, hoping the owner would call. Well, maybe not "hoping". The kids loved having a dog to walk and he came with manners. After 10 days, we named him Flyn. This guy was part of our family from the day he got in our car. When he got excited, he would sneeze. When you asked him if he wanted to go outside, he danced in circles. When I gave my husband a kiss, he would get in between us and bark. He slept on the floor by my side of the bed. He looked out the window, waiting for us, and when the garage door opened, he was there. When he was out on his lead, he would get tangled in the trees and would howl. He would chase the cats only when he had permission. He barked when the kids gave me a hug. He loved snacks! Flyn was a member of this family and we loved having him here.
He started limping and the limp progressed to carrying the leg over time. We all knew it was bad. He had had a skin tumor removed in Jan and we cautiously waited for other signs. We knew we had to take him in for the leg. The doctor confirmed that it was bone cancer and he was in horrible pain. Hanna and I were with him when he took his last breath. He laid his sweet head down into my hands and went to sleep. It has been the hardest thing to watch my kids have their hearts broken losing him. I miss my buddy. Eric misses his friend that would lay at his feet while he works. The house is so quiet.
When we tell folks that he is gone, most ask when we will get another dog. Not sure we will. He was one of a kind. He was more than a nose and a tail. He was a friend, a sibling, and our defender. The dog owners get it, at least most of them do. Some have shed tears with us. Those who walked by and said hi to Flyn everyday knew how sweet he was. He loved all dogs and would greet his friends with a whine and a yelp that said, "Hurry and get over here, I want to say hi!"
It rained the day after he died. I think it was fitting as that was what our hearts were doing as well. There is a stone engraved with his name in our flower area. The same area he would get tangled up in. We thought he belonged there.
Good bye sweet friend. You were amazing while you were here and our hearts will never be the same.
