My Bodyguard: Shadow Stories

Shadow, June 200o to
November 5, 2006

Shadow was always there for us and we'll miss her dearly. I want to share a few stories and thoughts about her, as I mentioned I would in my last post. Thank you family and friends for your compassion and understanding. It means so much! I hope these stories make you laugh. She was such a powerful and happy go-lucky force to be reckoned with. Holden keeps asking me if I am still sad about Shadow. He wants to get another dog and so does Cliff. But I am not even ready to think of another dog. They miss her too, but want to fill the void she will leave. Right now I need to remember my dear friend and all she gave to us:

~Her previous owner, a next door neighboor, knew we liked her. We always talked to Shadow at the fence. And she always barked back. When our neighbor was moving they asked if we wanted her. We said yes! It was so nice to have a dog, but a lot more than we bargained for sometimes. The first year she was with us I wasn't sure I would ever get used to having such an energetic dog. But she was so lovable and sweet that she grew on us.

~When we were about to go somewhere she'd be at the door ready to go with us. We took her if it was possible. Lots of times we went on walks in the mornings. When she saw me putting on my shoes she knew it was time to go and would get so excited. Sometimes I'd let her off her leash to run in the park with me. It was the highlight of her day. A few times she would be so into her run that she'd forget me and take off to hunt rabbits or other small creatures. I would call after her and she wouldn't come back. I'd go home and she'd come back on her own. I would always worry but she had always found her way home so I tried not to panic. With a lot of patience on my part, and smarts on hers, she got used to not running off. Except for this summer she had a slip up. I waited for her to come home and after an hour she never came home. So I drove around looking for her. When I found her she was about two blocks away and all wet from the morning dew. I called her and she was deep in rabbit hunting mode. I had to get out of the car to break her trance. She quickly jumped into the car and we went home.

~My favorite Shadow story: When Holden was learning to use the potty he wore underwear while at home. Once he had a #2 accident and it ran down his leg and onto the kitchen floor. He yelled out, "Mom help. There's poop on the floor." A few seconds later he announced, "Never mind. Shadow ate it." That story has been told many times and it never gets old. Poor Holden. But it is a classic Holden and Shadow story.

~She spent most of her time by my side. She knew when I was about to stand and she would stand and lead the way for me. When I went upstairs she followed. Sometimes when I'd be in bed I'd hear a strange sound under the bed and it would be her wiggling out. If she were less high energy I would have let her sleep on the bed, but I was sure she would wake me up at night. Instead she slept outside my door or on the couch.

~Another favorite story: One night at about 2 a.m. Shadow was whining. Cliff got up to see what she was whining about. He didn't see anything and turned to go back to bed. Just as he turned a bat flew over his head. From then on we knew Shadow didn't mess around on security issues. She didn't sleep on the job! We slept better at night knowing her keen sense of smell and hearing were always on.

~Shadow howled at the answering machine and always barked when someone was at the door or when she heard any knocking sounds. She once killed a nest of baby rabbits in our back yard and I was so upset about that. But she was doing what she loved to do.

~She'd go nuts and jump and bark at people when they came over. Even if it was someone she had met many times. She was the most protective dog we could have asked for. At times it drove me crazy. But I will miss all her quirks and kindness. She never gave up on us and always had a doggy smile to share. Even in her last moments of life she smiled and never gave up hope. She tried to get to me and she still had her goofy smile on her face. I saw the accident and I will always be haunted by it. But I will always remember how she tried to hobble to me and her smile. She didn't bleed but died quickly from internal injuries. She mostly stuck by my side and we were going to get something from the garage. She saw a squirral and bolted which she had done before, but a car had never passed by at that exact moment. Our street is not very busy. It is a moment I will always feel guilty about and learn from. She was my dear friend and I never wanted her to feel left behind. But I never dreamt that my love of her being with me would cost her life. She always cried and whined and stared out the window for me. She always seemed so happy when she was with me.

~At the park yesterday Shadow was on her leash and Holden wanted to walk her around. Every time she saw me she would try to get to me. She was my dog. She loved us all but she was so loyal to me. She was like "my" shadow. We didn't name her. Her previous owner did. But it was fitting. Now every time I see something black in the corner of my eye I think of her. She was always in the shadows and always there. I can think of a few more stories, but I will save them for another time. Goodbye friend. You were the best friend a girl could ask for. Everytime I see a rabbit or squirral I'll smile and think of Shadow, our own personal bodyguard. The boys driving by who hit you are so sorry and I know they feel our pain and grieve too. We love you, girl!!!