Henry James

Henry James....We miss you Bad Dog. We always said you were either Full Blast or Out Cold! We knew you would be full of life up to the very end. You had a knack for detecting UPS and FedEx, three streets over. You were good at letting us know that there were fireworks, just in case we didn't see or hear them. And when I would lay in bed and tell you to close your mouth and stop barking, you literally would bark through closed lips. You crazy dog. You could catch the scent of any animal in the yard, prancing through the grass with your nose up in the air. You were awesome in 4H dog agility and for some ridiculous, crazy reason, you were really good in Obedience and Showmanship. You were a Bad Dog outside of the ring but once you entered you could sit three minutes and get you and Victoria trophies and Purple Ribbons. This past year, you escorted me everywhere, even letting me know when it was time to go to bed. I purposely would take a detour and you would quickly gain the upper hand, cut me off and walk in front of me once again. You had lightning speed. You could catch any crumb of food that fell off the counter or off Jared's fork before it ever hit the ground. Your eyes would dart from person to person watching to make sure you caught the food before anyone else. Your eyes moved so fast, how you never got dizzy, I have no idea. We knew life was abruptly changing before us once your hearing started to go. We knew your days were limited and memories of your first year with us when as a puppy you would steal the boys socks while they were trying to put them on and disembowel stuffed animals of their stuffing when we weren't looking. You had a good life you Bad Dog, we loved you dearly and wanted to ring your neck too. We never did. We love you Bud. You were the only dog I know who has a middle name. And you knew that when you heard your full name, by golly, you did what you were told. You pushed every boundary that you could possibly push...and some. Your last day, you were really tired after having two strokes in four days. Victoria and I took you beyond the border to explore everywhere you wanted to go. You chose to attempt to hike your leg over every bush in the entire acre and a half of yard, you trotted right past the chickens, the pony, the goats....your only desire was to sniff your way through the back pasture behind the shop. We asked you where you wanted to go next, so you made a slanted, wiggly, bee line past all the animals again , which was totally unusual and unnerving to the compost pile to sniff. Victoria and I laid down on the grass where you laid out between us when you had your fill. You sat quietly facing the house, like you were just soaking it all in, taking inventory of your doggie life. Sammy snuck out along the grass line, behind the chicken coop and slipped in to nuzzle up to his buddy Henry. You had a good 14 years with us Henry James. We love you!