2010-01-20 Travels Without Shelby

Lakewood, WA

Within a week of the passing of two beloved family dogs - Turner and Phoebe - Shelby joined them today.

I once read a story about a guy who had to put his Great Dane down. The Dane had never been given chocolate but like all dogs, had always wanted to. So the night before the final trip to the Vet he purchased a pint of Haagen Daz chocolate ice cream and allowed it to melt so he could let his friend taste the forbidden treasure at least once in his life.

Today, I bought a pint of Haagen Daz chocolate ice cream for Shelby and sat with her as she gratefully lapped it up.

Then, I drove her to the Vet one final time.

Shelby came into my life in severe distress but took it all in stride and never let her handicap get in the way of her unbridled love for living it.

Surprisingly, she did not suffer from many old-age issues and lived gracefully and happily to the very end.

But flames that burn twice as bright burn half as long.

In a world so filled with sadness and hardship, particularly the tragic situation in Haiti right now, the passing of an old crippled dog doesn't deserve much attention.