Sammy

Sammy died today.Quite unexpectedly.  He just laid down on my parents' sun porch and went to the Rainbow Bridge.

Sammy was my parents' sheltie.  He was part of a couple.  He leaves behind Liberty Belle, also known as Libby. 

His favorite past times were chasing the frisbee and barking at the pool sweep with Libby as it made its way around the pool.  He never particularly favored actually getting in the pool for a dip, however.  He did tolerate his baths pretty well.

Sammy was a quirky fellow.  He wasn't big on car rides...shelties are known for car sickness, you know.  So we kept those to a minimum.  We even have a mobile vet for he and Libby.  He wasn't big on human sneezes and he really hated it when you had to file your nails with an emery board.  He barked and barked at you.

He loved his toys; he had a whole basketful of babies.  The witch that cackled was always his favorite though I think he was partial to a ribbiting frog, a mooing cow and lively monkey during his short little life as well. 

He never learned to walk on a leash either so he had to stay at the house.  But he didn't want to ride in the car and he had plenty of entertainment in the backyard with the pool sweep and the birds.  And let's not forget the squirrels.  Sammy was so fast he damn near caught one of those birdseed-thieving squirrels one day. 

Sammy didn't mind all of the other dogs in the family coming over for visits (and there are always plenty of them), but he always had to meet them at the door and tell them who was boss of this house.  That always made me laugh because he was so small.  Here he was--this tiny little sheltie bossing around my border collie and my brother's Airedale.  Good stuff. 

I think it was also to say that Libby was to be respected while they were in the house.  He loved his Libby.

He also loved my nephew who will learn another life lesson tonight.  Darn it. 

Sammy had terrible allergies.  He chewed at his paws and often had ugly sores on his foot where he couldn't resist the temptation to scratch the itch.  He had trouble with his ears, too.  He bore all of it with patience.  Including the medicine he had to take.

I write all of this in high praise of the little man, but he never seemed to think much of me...even though adding him to the family was my idea.  That's ok, Sammy.  You loved Mama and Daddy and Libby very much.  You didn't have to like me.  I have a firm belief that all dogs go to heaven so Max, Boots and Gus met you at the Bridge tonight.  Probably with a brand new frisbee.