[FONT=Times New Roman]In the summer of 1991, right before I turned 8, my dad told me that we would be moving back to The States, and that we would be getting a dog. (For years I actually thought we moved just to get a dog.) [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman]This was my parent’s first pet, as well as mine, so we were learning through trial and error. I remember my dad making phone calls, looking for a Golden Retriever puppy. We eventually found one located in a pet shop, and brought him home. And so our family grew by one member. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman]As a child, I played with Ben all the time. During the winter he would accompany me and my friends to go sledding. In the summer we’d play tag and hide & seek with him (hide and seek meant trying to climb a tree while Ben wasn’t looking, and seeing how long it would take for him to spot us). I was always a shy girl, but through Ben’s outgoing character I made friends that I still have to this day. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman]Through the turbulence of my teenage years, Ben was a shoulder to cry on. Whenever a new drama evolved, he was always there for a hug. In these cases he would demand I shake his paw and scratch his belly, as if to say, “hey, don’t think about it, pay attention to me instead!” [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman]Ben was a very high-energy dog. Walking always became a race, as he had to be first. He was always running around in the garden, sniffing and searching for something new. Whenever he’d spot something suspicious, out came the high-pitched bark that he became known for. As a puppy we thought his bark would deepen with age, but it never did. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman]Wanting to be the centre of attention, Ben was always nearby. He became a cherished member of the family to all. Even my dad, who’s never had a thing for animals, developed a soft spot for Ben. Whenever my dad told Ben he was a “good boy” that tail would start wagging like mad. I went through a range of nicknames with Ben, eventually coming to Poopy, or Poopy Doo. This name stuck and eventually I caught my parents (including dad) also calling for Ben with “POOOOOOPY!” Ben never had a problem with this. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman]A year ago, Ben was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer on his foot. After surgery to remove the tumour, Ben returned to his regular high-spirited self. A few months later the cancer returned, and once again we opted for surgery, although the cancer couldn’t be fully removed. Ben also had two seizures this year, but he recovered from them both (the first was hardest on him). About two months ago the cancer started to spread quite rapidly on his leg. It didn’t seem to bother Ben at first, but we gradually noticed his walk starting to become affected. Over the past couple of weeks his condition when dramatically downhill and tumours started to appear on his back. So, on Monday we bed farewell to our beloved Ben. I scratched his chin (his favourite spot) until his eyes fell shut. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman]The love that I had for this dog is immense. While I hate saying goodbye, I am comforted by the all the good memories I have of him. I couldn’t have asked for a better friend to grow up with.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman]Ben: November 27th 1991 - July 24th 2006. [/FONT]
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In Memory Of
07-28-06, 03:29 am
