MimzMum
Wise Old Thumper
I don't know if I've ever recorded a tribute to my boy here. If I have, please forgive me for having a crummy memory and doubling up. And even though he wasn't a bunny, he was near and dear to my heart and kept me from going completely insane in the wilds of Alaska for 13 years. So if you would all indulge me, I'd like to remember him today, more than five years now since we parted ways.
Shadow, you came to us in the spring of 1997. Even though I had family and other pets, you took center stage in my life. You were a big boy and just a wee bit scary. Your first night with us must have been traumatic for you because you just stood outside your house and howled, all night long. I could never understand how you could miss people who hurt you, but you did.
You were very confrontational at first. It took me wearing a skirt (instead of blue jeans, you didn't like anyone dressed like a guy) and a package of 48 hot dogs to get you friendly. After that I never had a problem with you. You weren't fond of my hubby though. You'd growl and bark if he came anywhere near me. He had his own epiphany with you when he took you for runs to the river on his ATV. You were buddies after that and inseparable. But you and I still had lots of great walks and days playing with the kids together. I never felt afraid as long as you were there. Loyal to a fault and the best friend any of us could have.
Your puppies were beautiful. I'm sorry we couldn't keep them all, we'd never intended for you to have any, but we didn't get you neutered quickly enough and you and Dusty paired right up. She couldn't feed them all so I took turns nursing them. I wish we could've all been family together, (imagine the sled team we would've made!) but 12 dogs (all big ones) was going to be impossible for us to care for. We lost all but two of them to stupid owners. Unless some of your bloodline is still running the trails today out where we are, sometimes I see their faces in the sled dogs here.
One daughter and one son were our keepers. Both of them and their mother went before you. Their passings are nightmares that haunt me to this day.
But you survived GDV and mast cells and even being completley shaved in the dead of winter one year. :shock: We thought someone had taken our dog away and left another in his place. You poor boy, you were so unfamiliar without that great coat of yours, annoying as it was in summer for you.
You had terrible degenerative spinal disease and when your legs wouldn't hold you for your walks we knew time was growing short. But that last winter you developed kidney disease (I'm certain from poor quality dog foods) and on that horrible 16th March we had to let you go because you weren't coming back to us.
I took a few clippings of your beautiful fur and still have them. You are buried in the back yard and this year, when we move, I will never stand at your graveside and speak to you again. Please....please...don't leave me here in this world alone, where I cannot find you. Please come with us, boy. And bring the babies and their mama and all our loved ones who sleep in the earth with you.
Can't do this even now without crying. You were all the world to me and I hope I was to you. You never ran at my side, you flew. And now you have your own wings. Please watch over us all, and little Jenna especially who I think you sent to me because you saw me floundering, until I come to walk those heavenly trails with you and am no longer shadowless.
Love you, boy. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Shadow, you came to us in the spring of 1997. Even though I had family and other pets, you took center stage in my life. You were a big boy and just a wee bit scary. Your first night with us must have been traumatic for you because you just stood outside your house and howled, all night long. I could never understand how you could miss people who hurt you, but you did.
You were very confrontational at first. It took me wearing a skirt (instead of blue jeans, you didn't like anyone dressed like a guy) and a package of 48 hot dogs to get you friendly. After that I never had a problem with you. You weren't fond of my hubby though. You'd growl and bark if he came anywhere near me. He had his own epiphany with you when he took you for runs to the river on his ATV. You were buddies after that and inseparable. But you and I still had lots of great walks and days playing with the kids together. I never felt afraid as long as you were there. Loyal to a fault and the best friend any of us could have.
Your puppies were beautiful. I'm sorry we couldn't keep them all, we'd never intended for you to have any, but we didn't get you neutered quickly enough and you and Dusty paired right up. She couldn't feed them all so I took turns nursing them. I wish we could've all been family together, (imagine the sled team we would've made!) but 12 dogs (all big ones) was going to be impossible for us to care for. We lost all but two of them to stupid owners. Unless some of your bloodline is still running the trails today out where we are, sometimes I see their faces in the sled dogs here.
One daughter and one son were our keepers. Both of them and their mother went before you. Their passings are nightmares that haunt me to this day.
But you survived GDV and mast cells and even being completley shaved in the dead of winter one year. :shock: We thought someone had taken our dog away and left another in his place. You poor boy, you were so unfamiliar without that great coat of yours, annoying as it was in summer for you.
You had terrible degenerative spinal disease and when your legs wouldn't hold you for your walks we knew time was growing short. But that last winter you developed kidney disease (I'm certain from poor quality dog foods) and on that horrible 16th March we had to let you go because you weren't coming back to us.
I took a few clippings of your beautiful fur and still have them. You are buried in the back yard and this year, when we move, I will never stand at your graveside and speak to you again. Please....please...don't leave me here in this world alone, where I cannot find you. Please come with us, boy. And bring the babies and their mama and all our loved ones who sleep in the earth with you.
Can't do this even now without crying. You were all the world to me and I hope I was to you. You never ran at my side, you flew. And now you have your own wings. Please watch over us all, and little Jenna especially who I think you sent to me because you saw me floundering, until I come to walk those heavenly trails with you and am no longer shadowless.
Love you, boy. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
