Very Long Overdue
Alright. I feel like I can't post anything at all without getting this one done. I guess it kind of works out that I waited so long, because I don't want anyone to think I'm looking for attention. I just want to...say a few words about a really fantastic dog.
We lost Buddy on the first of April of this year. He was not only my dog, but he also belonged to a lot of my extended family. Buddy started out with my grandmother and grandfather. One of my older cousins who was living with my grandparents at the time found him in a park in the summer of 1998. Most of my family was shitty about Buddy moving in with them, bitter about my cousin adopting him and more or less dumping him on my grandparents. My grandfather died in March 1999, and I have to say that I really think my grandfather liked Buddy by the end. He did like dogs. I remember Buddy putting his head on my grandfather's knee. Buddy liked everybody.
The cousin that found Buddy was living in the upstairs of my grandparents' house with his wife and child. The kid is my little cousin, Zac, who is the relative closest in age to me. He was 4 when Buddy showed up and always considered Buddy his dog, too.
Buddy spent most of his life with us as the companion of my grandmother, until her death in December 2005. Various relatives bitched for years about a 90+ year old being "stuck" with a black lab, but they were good for each other. He loved her and she loved him. He was a big, black, intimidating dog who would sit in between her favorite chair and the front door. Even though he wouldn't hurt anyone, he provided a nice appearance of protection. He slept on the floor by her bed most nights (the couch otherwise :P ) and he used to sit by the door of the bathroom while she took a bath. Even my whiniest relatives felt a little better knowing the dog was with her.
Yeah, that's my 9 year old arm in the picture. This was Christmas at my grandmother's.
Now, we always thought Buddy was an old dog, but obviously he must have been pretty young when he showed up. We always hoped he'd live at least as long as my grandmother and he managed to go beyond that. It wasn't always perfect. He always barked a lot, a habit we never broke...hated being left outside for any time at all. He also ate strange things XD like my grandmother's false teeth...twice. One time he got an entire loaf of bread still INSIDE the plastic. Honestly, it ended up being hilarious most of the time, especially a while after the fact.
I taught him to fetch. My mom taught him to sit. He loved everybody. He came to live with my immediate family about 6 months after my grandmother's death. I don't think my dad was ever really happy about it, because our house just isn't set up for a large dog, but I know he liked him deep down. Buddy bonded well as the new housemate of my dog, Shelby. They weren't close at first, but they got over that.
My dogs, 2008.
Buddy was a great dog and a real member of the family. We miss him everyday, but I know he had a good life with all of us...the big, gentle goofball. I love you, Buds, and I miss you like hell. I just wanted to say one more time "Good dog."
Buddy and baby Lola, January 2009.
We lost Buddy on the first of April of this year. He was not only my dog, but he also belonged to a lot of my extended family. Buddy started out with my grandmother and grandfather. One of my older cousins who was living with my grandparents at the time found him in a park in the summer of 1998. Most of my family was shitty about Buddy moving in with them, bitter about my cousin adopting him and more or less dumping him on my grandparents. My grandfather died in March 1999, and I have to say that I really think my grandfather liked Buddy by the end. He did like dogs. I remember Buddy putting his head on my grandfather's knee. Buddy liked everybody.
The cousin that found Buddy was living in the upstairs of my grandparents' house with his wife and child. The kid is my little cousin, Zac, who is the relative closest in age to me. He was 4 when Buddy showed up and always considered Buddy his dog, too.
Buddy spent most of his life with us as the companion of my grandmother, until her death in December 2005. Various relatives bitched for years about a 90+ year old being "stuck" with a black lab, but they were good for each other. He loved her and she loved him. He was a big, black, intimidating dog who would sit in between her favorite chair and the front door. Even though he wouldn't hurt anyone, he provided a nice appearance of protection. He slept on the floor by her bed most nights (the couch otherwise :P ) and he used to sit by the door of the bathroom while she took a bath. Even my whiniest relatives felt a little better knowing the dog was with her.
Yeah, that's my 9 year old arm in the picture. This was Christmas at my grandmother's.
Now, we always thought Buddy was an old dog, but obviously he must have been pretty young when he showed up. We always hoped he'd live at least as long as my grandmother and he managed to go beyond that. It wasn't always perfect. He always barked a lot, a habit we never broke...hated being left outside for any time at all. He also ate strange things XD like my grandmother's false teeth...twice. One time he got an entire loaf of bread still INSIDE the plastic. Honestly, it ended up being hilarious most of the time, especially a while after the fact.
I taught him to fetch. My mom taught him to sit. He loved everybody. He came to live with my immediate family about 6 months after my grandmother's death. I don't think my dad was ever really happy about it, because our house just isn't set up for a large dog, but I know he liked him deep down. Buddy bonded well as the new housemate of my dog, Shelby. They weren't close at first, but they got over that.
My dogs, 2008.
Buddy was a great dog and a real member of the family. We miss him everyday, but I know he had a good life with all of us...the big, gentle goofball. I love you, Buds, and I miss you like hell. I just wanted to say one more time "Good dog."
Buddy and baby Lola, January 2009.