Two years ago today, my black and tan canine soulmate decided it was time to move on. Preacher would have stayed, the spirit was still strong, but his body failed him.
My hubby and I shared a toast to Preacher a little earlier today and he commented "that dog was indestuctible"....and he was, right to the end. Hypothyroid, Stone cold blind before he even showed a hint that he was trouble seeing; he fell into a trench in the yard once and a few years ago while I was putting away the Christmas decorations, he fell into the crawl space. I'm sure I sprained my arms trying to lift his 80 pound butt 6 feet straight up, but he was completely unfazed and uninjured!
He was probably the most protective dog I've ever owned. Nothing, nobody came between me and Preacher. If I was home alone, he always kept his big ol' butt between me and the door. If you wanted to get to me, you had to go through my Preacher protection. He sounded mean when he let go with that big bark, but he was really a gentle, sweet soul. Ok, one time he bit an aquaintance of Stuart's, but I never liked that guy anyway. Preacher was a good judge of character!
The only thing Preacher was more devoted to than me was his Franklin. They arrived together, the first of what would become many foster failures. Franklin was afraid of his own shadow and often wouldn't even move unless Preacher told him it was safe. Preacher stayed in this world long enough to give Franklin the confidence he would need to function without him. It's hard to believe that the dog who slept on my feet last night is the same scared little waif who first arrived here.
Preacher loved his food...any food, even things that weren't food! Stuffed toys, rocks, cat toys, cat litter....he wasn't fussy! When he missed two meals in a row, I knew it was time for a vet visit, expecting he had a blockage. Which he did, but for a change it wasn't from something he'd eaten that wasn't actually edible. It was from one of dozens of tumors. In the end even the indestructible dog couldn't beat cancer.
Happy Solstice, Preacher Creature, I miss you.
9 comments:
Godspeed, Preacher. Keep them all in line up there at the Bridge.
wooos & a-roos,
Star & Jack a-roo
Mum's eyes are leaking AGAIN today. We expect Preacher is over the Bridge protecting the other waifs, waiting for you.
Huffle Mawson
Yep...my mom is starting her day the way she ended her sunday evening...thinking 'bout the ones that are waiting fur us.
What a beaWOOtiful tribute to a handsome fella!
Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
Thank you for sharing preacher. A beautiful story and we will remember him.
>sniff<
Some of your Dawg Tails are pretty hard
to get through without a full box of Kleenex, Tamara.
I'd like to think your Heart-Dawg, Preacher,
is keeping company with my Heart-Dawg - Casey.
GodSpeed, Kids ... we'll catch up to
you guys, One Phine Day.
Yes, I always liked Preacher especially the way he would bulldoze thru the living room searching for his spot..blindness never seemed to be a hinderance. Of course not sure I needed a crying jag tonight but thanks for the memories of the sweetie we called Preacher the Creature.
Aw, I love that last shot of him, and his little eyebrows, those always killed me.
So cool that you ended up with him and Franklin, and even cooler that you bonded with Preacher like that. I'm glad I got to follow them post-shelter through you. God they were there a loooong time.
But I think you made up for that time in the shelter for them - I think he was the most spoiled ex-sled dog ever!
What a beautiful tribute. Mom has leaky eyes. Godspeed Preacher!
Hugs,
Sitka
God, thank you for sending Preacher to his mum, dad and Franklin and the rest of the family too. Could You please bless her because she is missing a friend.
Thank you, Amen
Elyse
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