Spikey



September 1, 1986-September 12, 1994


The Greatest Love of All

   Spikey, my sweet dearest little boy.  I never knew what it was like having a dog before.  One day this beautiful Momma dog had these gorgeous little puppies.  I remember going to go see the puppies in their pen.  All of the puppies were playing except you.  Off in the corner you were all by yourself.  All the other puppies were probably jealous of how handsome and cute your were.  You had these tan circles around your eyes that made you look like a raccoon.  I picked you up and held you and knew  I had to have you in my life.  Someone already gave you the name Spikey so we just kept it as that.  We took you from your outdoor home to a nice warm home inside.  You and I bonded right away.  And I began to know exactly what it’s like having a dog in my life!

   We had this house that had a lake on the property.  The geese always came to visit and you were more than happy to chase them away.   Although those geese gave you a good chase sometimes that had me worried!  But you showed them that it was your lake.  You took to the water right away and loved wading off in it.  You were always scared once your little paws couldn’t touch bottom so you would quickly paddle back to shore.  At just 6 months old you ate something that blocked your stomach and you needed emergency surgery.  They got the blockage out but ever since then you had developed stomach problems.  We had you tested and they found that one of the valves in your stomach was faulty.  After you started the medication you recovered and got on with your playfulness.  We lived out in the country at that time so I use to drive you up to the park to go for walks.  I always enjoy those walks with you. Then after barely a year things changed for you and I.  Mommy got a divorce and we moved in with my sister.

   Well you certainly were not use to people coming and going in a house before.  But Mom got some help for you but you never really did like all the comings and goings.  You were so use to it just being you and I.  Then one day Mommy meet this new man.  I remember when he was coming to meet you.  I suggest that he bring Milkbones if he wanted to get on your good side.  And of course those Milkbones did the trick.   One day you were so excited to see Steve that you tinkled all the way down the driveway to greet him.  We had to watch with you…you were a submissive pee’er!  You would be so excited to see your favorite people that you’d roll over on your back and squirt fountains!!  We had to make sure when we were away and came home that we greeted you only in the kitchen.  That was so we could easily wipe up the floor cause you we’re always so glad to see us.  You just had so many funny things that you did.

   Things weren’t going so well for you and it was time to get you into a better environment.  So Mommy and you moved in with Steve.  Steve lived in an apartment with two cats, Jenna and Jamie but it was no dogs allowed.  I remember we made it almost a month sneaking you in and out.  Then one day Mommy came home from work and on the door was an eviction notice...Opps!  Oh well, that’s okay Mom didn’t like the apartment living either so we all found this little house to rent.

   You liked your new house because you had a big back yard to run and play in.  That’s where Daddy taught you to play Frisbee.  You could do some pretty good high jumps.  One day you landed wrong on one of your jumps that you broke your toe.  You had to have a cast on your paw for weeks.  The vet said…to keep you from running…Yeah Right!!   You wouldn’t sit still for a minute.  You still carried that crazy Frisbee around the whole time.  You were so funny running with that cast…thump, thump, thump all threw the house.   Finally the day came when the cast came off.  You didn't waste a second going right back to playing with your Frisbee. 

   Mommy knew how much you loved the water so she got you your very own pool.  You would just sit in the pool and cool off on those hot summer days.  On Christmas mornings you were such a blast.  You opened each and every one of your presents.  We’d take you for walks around the neighborhood and at the corner of this one street was a ice cream place.  Oh how you loved ice cream.  We’d get you your very own kiddy cone.  When we’d be driving by the ice cream store we had to have you look the other way so you wouldn’t see the place.  If you saw it you’d cry and cry, you were so funny!!   Mommy and you were just like ‘one’.  Inseparable you and I were.  You got along great with the cats, especially Jenna.  Jenna loved it when you’d chase her.  One of the cute things you learned was how to smile like a human.  Your lips would go up and you’d have this big smile on your face.  Oh how precious you looked each time.

   Well things we’re great but it was time for Mommy and Daddy to get their very own house.  Oh you loved your new house because it had a fenced in big back yard.  You didn’t have to be tied out no more you could just run free as a bird.  That’s when you and the squirrels meet.  Oh Lord, did you like to chase those squirrels.  Every morning you and Mommy would first share breakfast.  Then when we we’re done eating all I had to do was say…Spikey, do you…..then you knew it was time to run outside and chase the squirrels.  On your birthday every year we’d take you out to this big park and go hiking.  You we’re pretty good at not being on a leash so you could run free out their and you really enjoyed it.  Plus it had a lake where you’d take a little swim.  Oh and how you loved to go for car rides.  But there was just one thing, you had to sit on Mommy’s lap so Daddy always had to drive.  You would just sit on me while you laid your head on my arm.  I’d get so tired from holding my arm up so you could see outside.  But that’s how we were, you and I.

   It was just a couple weeks before your  8th birthday that you took so ill.   The pills for your stomach destroyed and enlarged your heart and we never knew.  But you needed those pills to keep your stomach calm.  You made it threw to celebrate your birthday with a nice slow walk in your favorite park.  But then the day came when you had to leave.

     I love you Sweet Pea.  Wait for me we’ll play Frisbee
                    All my love...Mommy

This is my favorite picture of you

The presence of angels can be sensed
in things minute to magnificant.

 

 I never had any human children, but this is how I feel about  all my furkids…

 

You were not flesh of my flesh
Nor bone of my bone
But nevertheless,
You were still my own
I never forgot for a single
minute you weren't born
under my heart, but in it.

 

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Photo copyrighted by owner Linda Webb