Your Pet Tributes

'Shadow - the Wonderdog'

by Kate
(Bellevue, wa)

Shadow was 10 years old, black lab mix, fat as can be. He always enjoyed a good meal, even if it wasn't his own. When I got him, I never intended on getting a puppy, just to look.

Shadow was one of 7-8 puppies in the litter. While the rest of his brothers and sisters were racing around, Shadow came and sat on my foot, and sat and sat. He looked up at me and I knew I was lost. He continued to do that same thing throughout his life - sit on my foot and look up at me.

He was more than a dog, he was my best friend. He got me through the end of my marriage and 7 years later, the start of a new relationship. He loved kids, especially his own (well, biologically mine but..). He slept under my daughter's bed. Not an easy feat for a plump dog. There was a time when we couldn't find him for an hour and there he was, stuck under the bed. Too fat to get out, but apparently he thought he could do it.

He woke my kids up by jumping up on their beds and licking them but after several grouchy teen responses, he settled for creaking open their doors and laying by them. As a puppy, he pretended to pee to get a treat. He was always ultra protective - something we could never break him of. It was him protecting his turf and family and the neighbors, and his walking route.

He knew he was big and scary to the little kids when I would pick up my kids from school so he developed a little crawl - but I would always tell the kids, 30 second rule - the longest he could stay down without jumping on them and kissing them. He had different ways of approaching each kid - boys he was more aggressive and playful with. Girls he crawled to and rolled on his back.

He loved car rides more than anything, especially through a drive through with bones. He knew so many words and had a great personality. He was a master door opener and never liked a closed door. He wanted to make sure all his family was ok at night.

Shadow, I hope I can make it without you, because it seems really bleak now.