Sudden Sam

I spoke with a very close friend last nite, it'd been a few months since we'd had contact; Eric and I worked at the Post Office together for over 18 years. It is a real heartbreaker to type this up because I remember when 'Sam' came into Eric's home and he's gone now without my having(or taking)the time to see him before Sam left us. When I got full custody of my son Zach, the daycare I took him to was across the street from Eric's home....in fact, Eric recommended 'Miss Vee' to me. Zach and Sam became close friends immediately, we'd stop after I picked him up and go sit with Eric, his wife and Sam....was a beautiful thing, Sam was far bigger than Zach but ever so gentle and Zach would let Sam have treats from his little hands. On mornings that I worked and Eric was off, I'd find Sam in my van, sitting in the driver's seat as I'd return to go to work....I will miss Sam, as much as I miss Sally and Eric's Son...tragically taken way too early in life. As you can see in the above photo, Sam was as much a 'joker' as the rest of us.....I pray our Lord will embrace Sam along with Sally and Dane until we can all be together again. Below is a letter Eric wrote to the local paper, not sure if it was published because I don't read it any longer, I do want to ensure however, that Sam's passing and the story of how Eric got Sam, will be known. For you Sam, one last 'WOOF!'

Sam gets treats from Zach...they were tight!

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I would like to thank whomever "dumped" the little brown boy dog with the black face, and the too small red collar in the neighborhood north of Lake Margaret and Conway road about thirteen years ago. At the time, I was the mailman that delivered mail in that neighborhood. When I first met the year old puppy, there were two kids screaming in their yard about the dog that (in their minds) was sure to tear them up. I picked the little dog up, and carried it to the next yard. I explained to the dog that the kids didn't want him in their yard, and that he didn't belong there, and that he should find someplace else to be. I put the dog down, and told him again not to go back there, and to be careful where he wandered.

I continued along my route until I came upon a fenced yard with a dog inside the fence barking at me when suddenly appeared that little brown dog with the black face and the too small red collar standing between me and the fence, facing the dog in the yard that was barking at me. The little dog was barking at the other, larger dog, as if telling it to back off. I delivered the mail, and continued on my way. The little dog disappeared, of on other adventures, I thought.
I didn't think much of it, until the next yard where another dog was barking at me, and there again appeared that little brown dog with the black face, and to red collar. This happened at least once more while I delivered mail in that area.

I moved the mail truck up a short street, around the corner, where I had to continue walking, delivering mail. Apparently the little dog had followed my truck, as the next time there was a large dog chained in a yard barking at me, there again was that little brown dog with the black face, and the too small red collar, again facing the offending dog, barking for all he was worth at the larger dog.

I finished walking my route, got in my truck, and proceeded on to my next area. I looked in the mirror as I started down the street, and there was that little brown dog chasing my mail truck. I didn't want him chasing me into the next, larger street, so I stopped, and talked to a man at his house, trying to figure out how to get that dog to stop following me. As I talked the the man, the little dog began eating birdseed in the man's carport, so I slipped back to my truck, and continued on my way.

Throughout the day, that little brown dog started working in my head. By the end of my deliveries, I was sure that the puppy was going to starve, get hit by a car, get picked up by animal control and put to sleep. Something bad was bound to happen to that little, so I went to the place where I had "ditched" him. I went up and down the streets, but I couldn't find him anywhere. I finally stopped at a house where the people there "adopted" many dogs. I explained to them that I was looking for that little brown dog with the black face, and the too small red collar, and that if they found it, The lady on the corner had my phone number, and to please call me.

I finished out my shift, and returned home. When my wife came home, I told her about my day, and the little brown dog, and that I had not been able to find it when I went looking. She told me it was just as well, as we already had a dog (Sally).

I was doing some work out front, when my wife appeared with the telephone, saying it was for me. I answered the phone with a hello, and the lady on the other end said "This is Mrs. K--- I have your dog". Well, I told my wife that we may have another dog, anyway. I got in my car, and headed for the lady's house, not far from my home. Upon arriving, she came out of her house with that little brown dog with the black face, and too small red collar on a leash. I told her that was the one I was looking for, so she took the leash off the dog, and it sat down.

I walked to my car door, with the dog following me. He sat down until I opened the door, and stood aside, he then got in the car, went to the passenger seat, and sat facing forward. He stayed there until I got home, got out of the car, and stepped aside. Only then did he stand, walk to my door, got out, and sat, until I shut the car door. I walked to my house, with the dog walking beside me, got to my front door, where the dog, again sat down. My wife had heard me pull up in the driveway, and came to the front door, looked at me, and then looked down at the little brown dog with the black face, and the too small red collar, and her eyes got big, and glassy.
I had just watched her fall for him, and we had just been adopted by him.

Anyway, the puppy, who was about one year old at the time, eventually named Sam, became an integral part of our family, and our whole neighborhood. He was well loved by everybody that ever met him, family, friends, neighbors, and strangers all accepted Sam as their friend. For the last thirteen, or so years Sam has lived with us, loved us, been loved by us, been my friend, confidant, and protector.

I also did away with the too tight red collar, and he received a new tan one that fit him.
His black face eventually turned white with age.

Nobody, including his veterinarians, could ever tell me what breed, or combination of breeds he may be, so he just became "a brown dog" whenever anybody asked.

He has gone through good times and bad times, the losses of Sally (his sister), and our oldest son (his brother).
He has watched our younger son (his other brother) go off to war, and start a family of his own.
Sam has been by my side all this time, never wanting anything more than to be with his family. He would follow me anywhere, and wait for me to finish whatever I had to do, and want to go with me to wherever I was going next.

When I stood, he would stand. When I sat, he, too would sit.

A month and a half ago, Sam lost the use of his legs, and eventually the use of his back muscles, too. His vet said that we could try this, and that, which, of course we have. My wife and I have been carrying him outside to use the bathroom, carrying him back in, cleaning him up, and sometimes having to spoon feed him when he was unable to eat for himself.

I may be a little slow, but I've been holding out hope that Sam would get up and meet me at the door, as always, when I return home, but it just hasn't happened.
Yesterday I had to make one the hardest decisions of my life, when my wife and I took Sam for his last ride to the vet.
I took him out of my truck, laid him in the grass, and we sat talking with him until they had an open exam room inside...
Sam had a good, safe life with us. Sam went peacefully a little past six o'clock last night.
I am sad. My wife is also sad. His brother is sad, too.
Anyway, I want to thank you for not wanting that little brown dog with the black face, and the too tight red collar.
Thank you for giving me, and us the opportunity to share our lives with Sam.
Everyone Sam has met for the last thirteen years has been blessed to have met Sam, and to have been part of his life, and to have had him as a part of theirs.
Sam has been a great joy to be around. Everybody has always remarked about how polite he is (has been).
He has helped me to be the man I am today.
We have done everything possible to postpone the day that Sam would no longer be with us.
Well, now is that time, and I am struggling to adjust.
I have had people tell me to "Just get a new dog", and I will, but there will be no replacing my friend Sam.

He was ONE OF A KIND.