Monday, November 11, 2013

A Faithful Companion


January 10, 1999 to November 11, 2013
Stoic, intensely curious, smart and quirky, that's what Sam was.  Cool, hip, unconcerned with anyone except his pack, sort of the Maynard G. Krebs of the dogworld.  Loyal and sensitive.  We had almost fourteen years together.  Mr. Lucky and I have had a tough few weeks making this decision and yes, we are sad, sad sad today, but we know it was the right thing to do.  Not tragic, by any means, in light of so much human suffering in places like the Phillippines but we've been touched and moved by this unconventional dog. 
Sam came into our lives right after I stopped working in the corporate world.  I scarcely knew a thing about dogs and thought every dog just needed the right training to become Lassie.  Now I've learned so much more.  Each dog comes with his own personality, some of it breed related and some of it individual traits.  This picture sums up the difference
Sam, one cool guy, Snowy, my friend's dog,  always eager to please.
Sam made me find out what he needed to make the two of us happy......and that was exercise.  Our first time in a dogpark I saw that all he wanted to do when he was young was run and hunt, just what basenjis are bred to do in their native Africa.  Two visits a day in cooler weather resulted in tired dog, happy owner.  Because of his love for dogparks we have met the most wonderful friends over the last dozen plus years and visited dogparks in many states.  Sam didn't have any need for strangers fawning over him but we loved the social life that came from those visits.
Florida dogpark gang, two legged and four
Sam was highly attuned to me in particular and followed me room to room throughout the day, but often at a distance.  He also followed the sunshine in each room which explains why he loved spending winters in Florida for more than ten years.


On the Florida sewing room carpet
He was never a cuddler but liked having me rub his belly after a meal....and climbing into our bed at 6am to snuggle.


Our friends and family let us bring Sam into their homes for years and we are so grateful to all of them for that kindness.  
We were uncertain when we very suddenly brought home a new dog who had been left at the dogpark almost three years ago.  But Sam was remarkably adaptable and by day three Sam and Lucky were playing hard.  In the years that followed, Lucky was the instigator but Sam was the one who got injured and never retaliated or held a grudge.  Our one dog home suddenly became a two dog house.  Despite their personality differences, we've all been happy together over these years.


In April, 2013
But we've seen Sam decline quickly this past year.  For the first time, he was confused and upset when we returned to our Florida condo last November.  He was virtually deaf and getting cataracts.  When we returned to Maryland this spring we noticed him drinking huge quantities of water and having other problems.  Things had continued to deteriorate all summer and fall and so we had to have that difficult conversation with our vet about two weeks ago. 



Lake Roland and Robert E. Lee Park, home of Sam's favorite runs and hunts

Mr. Lucky was leaving for a trip to CA to see his father so I had six days home alone with the two guys.  We took walks in the woods each day, had plenty of treats for Sam and kept the heating pad in his dogbed turned up.  Hard thing to do but so relieved that we have such a wonderful vet and kind friends who understand because they've suffered this same loss.  Plenty of tears here, laughs at funny memories and happiness knowing that Sam had an absolutely wonderful life.  


25 comments:

  1. Words are so inadequate! Those four-legged friends are such pure unconditional love... wishing you many, many meaningful memories as the tears flow!

    Brenda

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  2. So sorry for your loss.....may your happy memories bring you comfort.

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  3. Your love for Sam, and his for you, shines through your words. It is so hard to let go...I'll be thinking of you.

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  4. Such sad news - we are a three dog family, and our collie is an old girl now. My thoughts are with you and yours xx

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  5. Only a person who has experienced the unconditional love of a dog can understand your loss. My dog died of cancer early this year and it was sad but my boxer Voltaire, like your dog Sam, "had a wonderful life." My thoughts are with you.

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  6. So sorry to hear about your loss. My thoughts are with you, mr Lucky and Lucky, who all lost such a cool and faithful little friend.

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  7. Having to part from such good friends as our dear pets is something terrible, I'm very sorry for your loss :(

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  8. So sorry for your loss my thoughts are with you.

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  9. This is the worst part of owning a dog - my heart goes out to you for your loss but your blog just celebrated his life with you which is wonderful

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  10. So sorry, but what lovely memories you have to cherish.

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  11. So sorry about Sam. Dogs are so loving and adorable. It sounds like he had a fantastic life though and you should be proud of that.

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  12. My husband likes to give me a hard time about how I spoil our two dogs. My reply is always, "their little lives are so short, they should be happy." I think Sam had a very happy life. It's so hard to let them go. My heart aches for you.

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  13. I know your sadness. The memories will be even more precious as time goes on. I will be thinking of you. Anne

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  14. terribly sorry. Your pictures show he had such an enjoyable life.

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  15. Jane your post brought tears to my eyes. I'm so sorry for your loss. God bless you.

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  16. So sorry. Losing your dog is like losing a bit of your heart. I had to make that hard decision with my boy this summer and, even though you know it is the right thing to do, it is never easy. Know that my thoughts are with you.

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  17. I am so very sorry for your loss of Sam. The animals in our lives are so much love in such small packages. What a good and happy life you gave him. How lucky indeed to have had your time together.

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  18. So sorry to hear your sad news, you have a lot of happy memories and lovely photos of your time with Sam. My cat has just been diagnosed with cancer so I cried reading your moving post.

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  19. Jane, I'm so sorry for your loss of Sam. I had to make a similar decision with my cat who was my constant companion. That was the most difficult decision I ever made. The vet told me that I would know when it was time. I did. He was suffering too much. From the wonderful pictures, I can tell he was happy and had a good life.

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  20. Oh, I'm so sorry you lost a good, faithful and loyal friend. Sending you a virtual hug...

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  21. What a wonderful tribute to Sam -- it looks like he enriched your lives in so many ways, as cherished family members always do. I'm so sorry for your loss.

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  22. My heart just breaks for you and your family. It is so hard to loose a pet that had loved you unconditionally. They become part of our family and we have them for too short of time. My sweet girl Dyna has just had a cancerous tumor removed so I am dreading the days ahead for her. I have lost 3 Boxers to cancer and I remember and loved everyone. Sorry for your loss.

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  23. What a sweetie! I am so sorry for your loss. Elizabeth C.

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  24. Oh, how hard a decision - how sad a time! I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your wonderful companion. What a beautiful post.

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