My companion Emerson was killed a week ago today. Before I explained how he died, let me tell you how he lived.
Emerson was only four years old and was a very special dog! He was a mix (All American) of Chow and Golden Retriever (and best of everything else). I got Emerson from a shelter at the age of 8 weeks. From the time he was a puppy, anyone who met him would stated how he was such a happy dog. Even at the age of Four everyone would say what a great puppy, how old is he and when I would say 4 they would say months, polite fully I would correct them it was years, not months. He loved to jump (leap, bound, through he was a cat & deer all in one), run, very smart, watch TV, bark at the TV, play with other dogs, polite fully greet my friends when they came over and play with anyone or anything. Because of all of his fur, he had a deep admiration and love for mud. On the side of lake, creek, river, sidewalk, and the more the mud stunk or was black, the more he liked it! I am a firm believer that a dog should be a dog, although this was one of my least favorite of his habits, but watching how much fun he had rolling around in the mud...made the clean up worth it! And surprisingly with all the fur he had, it was amazing how quickly he would clean up! He was such an awesome dog and touched everyone he ever met. We did everything together; traveled, camped, hiked, kayaked, played, picnics, volunteered through Delta Society, holidays, evenings home and even went to work together when the schedule allowed. I never worried about him being with children, other dogs or any setting. Although he was not fond of most cats, from the time he was little, he watched cats walk free outside, and never understood why they walked so slow in front of his window and taunted him relentlessly. This love/hate for cats was probably his demise.
On August 11, 2006, I let him outside in the back yard after our morning routine of snuggling. This week I had painters on property and they had left the gate open, so sometime in his normal ˝ hour of running around outside he discovered the gate left open. I am sure being provoked by a cat, he was excited about the final potential to catch/play with this cat that has taunted him from afar. As a result he darted out in the road and was hit by a car. When I found him, directly across the street from my house, he was probably dead. Although whenever greeted with a shock like this, it is hard to believe, my neighbor was outside at the time and is such an animal lover rushed Emerson and I to the emergency clinic. I really don’t know how I would have survived that morning without her! After rushing to the animal emergency clinic (luckily less then 5 minutes away) and realizing I was covered in his blood they came out immediately and told me he was dead. It was the worst thing I have ever gone through…the 20 minutes seems constantly replay and with out my neighbor I would not have been able to make it.
"Cataholic" is my neighbor and she asked me to take the time to post something on this website. I am so thankful for her support, as well as the support of my family, friends and the friends from my pet community. Everyone realized how much Emerson was a part of my life and has been so thoughtful and caring. I know it is going to take time to get through this loss and with people to support me like Cataholic, I know it will be possible!
Emerson David was my first dog and that makes so much harder to loose my best friend, companion and son all in one. He definitely left paw prints on my heart and everyone who met him!
