Posted on 07/12/2007 9:59:24 AM PDT by Joe 6-pack
This morning, for the first time in almost nine years, I was not awakened by my canine alarm clock. I rolled out of bed to see my best friend Timber, stretched out at the foot of my bed where he laid down last night for what would be his final sleep.
Last night when I came home from work, all seemed fine, and even though he's been showing signs of age, there was nothing unusual about his demeanor or behavior. After my shower last night, I played with my dogs for a little while before bed, and will be forever grateful that I spent some time scratching his head and belly, tossing his ball and enjoying his company on his final day. Loyal and selfless to the end, he spared me the pain of deciding where and when he should be put to sleep, and he died silently in his sleep.
Timber came from excellent blood lines, and his noble and dignified appearance was only a pale shadow of his exceptional character. He stood by me through some of the worst times of my life, literally saving me twice that I know of. He was exceptionally gentle with children, and possessed of the kind of quiet self-confidence that we admire in the strongest, bravest humans. While I resist every effort to anthropomorphize my dogs and read human thoughts and emotions onto them, I can't help but liken Timber to the old knight in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: dignified, tired, but standing his post, loyal to the very end. I can honestly say that when I picked him from the litter in the autumn of 1998, I chose wisely.
It is said that a dog assumes the personality of his master. I should be honored if the reverse was true.
RIP buddy.
A beautiful big dog. Easy to get armsful when giving a hug. So sorry, Joe. Great that you’ve still got his little buddy, though.
I lost my Sparky this past September. It still hurts.
It’s been a year and I still miss you Timber.
I lost both of my pups this year also. One was 11 and the other was 14. I hope they are greeting Timber as we speak over the rainbow bridge.
Sorry for your loss.
(:’-(
Darling Love...
I am so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful boy.
Thank you...I was just marking the 5th anniversary of Timber’s death...sort of a cyber-stop by the graveside if you will...
You will see him again, love. Prayers on this heavy-hearted day...
I am truly sorry for your loss. There have been many days in my life where the only one in the house that wasn’t mad at me was the dog. They are special members of our family.
RIP Timber.
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