Zach

It's July 7 2003. Yesterday was a bad day for Zach. I don't know if he knows it was a bad day or not, but it certainly made me cry all day. I have to face the fact that I'm going to have to let him go soon. It's killing me. I thought now, while I can still function I'd write about Zach and send it out the day I have to let him go. I'm not certain I'll be able to breath much less write that he's gone.

Zach was born on Jan. 1, 1990. Some time in the middle of the night on New Years Eve, in my neighbors yard. A golden retriever had gotten through her doggie door and got to her blond lab "Annie" She was upset, but I looked on the bright side. I knew they would be the best of both breeds. Zach was the best of any breed. We brought him home, wrapped in a blue towel. He rode in my arms in the front seat. And as most of you know, the front seat was Zach's from than on. If you sat in his seat while he was in the car, eventually, know matter what size Zach was, you had him sitting on you. That was it. He didn't care how smashed you were, he was in his seat and he was comfortable.

Ariel whacked him on the head when we brought him home. He was afraid of her after that. If she was blocking the stairs and he couldn't get to me he'd be crying. He let all the other dogs know it too. Look out for the cats. The one thing he did like about cats was the litter box. When he was a pup he'd disappear for a few minutes. I'd call his name and he'd run up to the landing. Trying to keep his mouth shut tight so I wouldn't notice it was full of cat poop. The litter pressed to his nose always gave it away. He came on jobs with me. He learned to share toys, hugs and kisses. He loved all animals. the llamas got him the most excited. He'd do the famous "tuck butt" run (when the rear is going faster than the front). The llamas didn't know what to make of him.

He loved all people, in all sizes, getting the paper and while he was at it, all the neighbors papers too. He knew he'd get a treat for a paper, so why not get all he could. He loved rolling in nice cool grass. After a bath he loved rolling in dirt. He loved snow. And walks, than w, than you know, than just a glance, than a thought. Any of those he knew and went running for a leash, wiggling and a wagging. He had the cutest little wiggle to his walk. On hikes he had to be in the front, than he'd go to the rear and visit with every one and make sure they were all ok, than back to the front.

He'd wear himself out. He wasn't very good at brings balls or Frisbees back. We taught him that we would chase him around trying to get the toys, which was cute and fun until he took his first swim. We through a stick in the lake and he got it and started swimming back to us. When he got close and we reached out, he went swimming away! It took awhile to finally get him out of the lake. He liked helping out with the landscaping. Showing us where to put the rocks, standing over and supervising Greg building the deck. He peed on the bushes he didn't want and ate some of the trees.

He knew my thoughts, my moods. He loved me know matter what. There were a few times I put that love to the test. He wasn't too happy I brought Murphy home 6 years ago. And he definitely let out a few moans when I took Bella in almost 2 years ago. He'd be curled up on the front seat and she was only 10 weeks old and would lay on top of him. I told him I understood where she was coming from. I'd do the same. He moaned. She kept this up till she got big enough to cover most of him. When she was little she'd sleep under his chin, right in the softness of his neck. And soft he was. He had velvet ears. The fur on his face. His eyes. His kisses. His heart and soul. Everything about Zach was soft, gentle, sweet. How lucky I am to have had him in my life. And to share him with all of you. Every one who knew him, loved him.

Which just reminded me of Christmas. He always got wrapped presents. One Christmas the little girl next door came over. When she saw all that Zach got. She said sadly "he got more presents than me". He got a new "Incredible Hulk" doll every year. It was amazing. He knew every Thanksgiving he could start tearing it up because he'd be getting a new one soon. It was a sad Christmas when I couldn't find those dolls anymore. Try explaining that. Or when his best friend R-Son's parents got a divorce and moved away. Zach and R-son would look at each other out the fronts windows of our homes. Chris would ask if R-Son could come over and play. He come running and Zach would be at the door to greet him. He even went on rides to the mountains with us. His owners got a divorce. They found another family to take him. Zach stared out the window all day, every day. The house became a rental. With each new family he'd get excited thinking his friend was back. We got Nick at the Dumb Friend League to become Zach's new friend. And I, because of always watching R-Son, started pet sitting for a living.

That is a few stories I wanted to share about my best friend, my #1 son, my boy, my sweet, sweet boy. I know I'm too sad to breath, talk or function.

So please send out a cry, a laugh, a huge feeling of love into the universe for my boy Zach. And I hope and pray that there is another "world" out there, where he is taken care of and that I will see him again one day. Love. Debbie.