Squirrely

A young boy stares out the window of the backseat, A gentleman walking a golden retriever is walking down the sidewalk. The loyal companion didn't need a leash. "How awesome was that." the Young man thought to himself. "I want one just like that when I get old enough to have my own dog" he calls up to his mother. She looked back with a smile, "You can do whatever you like when your older, honey." not even glancing to see what was over there. Her eyes rest on the road as the young man thinks of how cool it would be to have a dog as smart as that.

 Fast forward 10 yrs, a grown man working at a factory, playing the part of an adult(the worst part of growing up, working). Time passes as another employee is making his way to greener pastures. He had found a puppy wandering the campsite he was staying at, and wasn't able to take it in the move. She was a Golden puppy the size of my arm. couldn't have been 8wks old. At 18, I had just recently moved into my very first apartment. I was asked if i wanted a puppy. OH, how excited I got. then realized, I'm in an apt, i need to ask first. I had to have this puppy. it was the perfect addition to my new stage in life. the timing couldn't have been better. My landlord was okay with the dog.

I went and picked her up as soon as i could. they had named the dog Squirrely, they had it a week or so, planned on keeping it, but life had other plans for this wonderful fur baby. She was to be mine till the day she took her last breath in my lap. An old girl of 13 she completed her mission with me and crossed the bridge to send me another Angel. Of all the memories I had with my Squirrel Girl, the Daily walks without a leash, I will carry with me forever. She was such a loyal dog, she loved her walks. We would always walk down the lakeshore. She didn't care if it was raining or -13 degrees, this girl wanted her walk.

This was no ordinary walk. We went 3+ miles everyday. I worked overnight at a factory, so my mornings with my girl was a precious time for us. It helped us both unwind. She would always run out on the ice chasing after the geese on the lake, she'd have me so worried sometimes. It took extra effort to get her attention then. She wasn't bad with other pups, very friendly to cats. But something about the geese put a fire under her butt. I loved seeing her free as can be, doing what dogs do best. What seemed to be over 100ft on the ice, she turns to look where I was finally. When she realized how far she had gone she immediately came back running into the shore. How I loved watching her ears bounce and what was sure the smile on her face as she would run towards me. So happy with her chase, I never gave her a hard time about running off. She was the type to stay in the Yard without a leash, only to observe the passer byes on the sidewalk. She knew so many tricks.

We then proceed into the inlet there is an awesome fishing and bike trail. The sign said no dogs, that never stopped me or anyone else for that matter. It was a cool little island full of beaver homes, as we were walking through she ran after more Geese which led her to an under pass. Her scurrying paws slipping on the ice as she tries to get traction. This time i had to call her. No telling how far she was going chase them. I took no chances, so close to the road. I walk about a foot or so on to the ice, bend down, she comes running back towards me(She was amazingly attune to my thoughts it seemed). I put her leash on and as we were exiting the ice on the inlet my last foot falls though the ice at the very edge and my hole leg sank into the frozen river water. My face hits the snow as the chill goes right to the brain. As fast as I could react I was out of the water contemplating my direction.

 This was about half way through my walk. We still had to complete the walk. No sense turning around, It was about the same distance either way. So I take the leash off and we start on our way. I will say this, the leg that fell through the ice was the warmest part of my body right then and for most of the way back my frozen pant leg would be the only reminder of the plunge it took. Squirrely was a special dog. She taught me more about life, Love and of the way things are. She trained me, more than I her. She was True Love incarnate, Squirrelly's demeanor lived on in her sister Ashes, who passed it to Emma who gave me my Angel. She was everything the young boy dreamed of and so much more. The perfect dog, Aren't they all.