"Sara"

This is one of my dogs, Sara. She is about 11 years old and for her, past her prime. I am sitting here watching her rest, realizing she is getting old. I decided to write this to honor her before she passes.

I wound up with Sara when she was about 6 months old. She was wandering my neighborhood and one of my cats was playing with her. No tags. I took her in, fed her and cut off the too tight choke collar she was wearing. My wife and I put up signs and called the appropriate agencies. No one came to claim her.

I kept her in my garage at night and during the day she had her own fenced area in the yard where she could meet our other dogs but not mingle. After about a week she was let into the family of 2 cats and 3 other dogs.

When ever someone came on the property she would lick them to death and then go get her ball so they would play with her. No matter how far the ball was thrown, nor how long it took to find, she would bring it back for another go. As soon as I sat in my favorite chair she would run to get her ball. We used to play ball every day, except for the time or two it disappeared and she would not play with a replacement.

She has had that darn hard rubber ball most of her life. I would throw the ball as far as I could, she would take off like a bat out of hell after the ball and bring it back with her tail wagging and I swear, she was skipping back.

Last year Sara decided I was throwing the ball to far and would just stare in the direction of my toss. I started tossing the ball just a few feet from the shop, that worked for a while. Now I don't even know where her ball is.

I would take Sara with me in the pick-up, weather cool enough, she would lay down in the back seat and go to sleep. She was not interested in the wind blowing in her face. She just wanted to be wherever I was.

My wife, who has some problems walking, took Sara for walks. Sara never pulled on the leash, she just moved along the same pace as my wife. It was as Sara knew. No more walks, the 70 or so feet to the shop is far enough.

Sara is the most tolerant dog I have ever had. She has never growled at any pet or person. The cats are always all over her, sleep next to her, rub on her and usually just try to bug her. The other dogs are of no concern to her, she will sorta play if they initiate.

Every morning Sara comes out to the shop with me, she insists. She gets her medicine/biscuit, drinks some water then lays on one of her beds or the floor. Today 3 men are here doing some work, she doesn't care. She only cares where I am.

I am going to miss her.