Saying Goodbye To An Old Friend

Picture taken just 4 days ago.

Twelve years ago I pulled up to my Office in Bishopville and proceeded to put my trash in the dumpster behind my building. Once I threw the trash bag into the dumpster I noticed a box inside moving around. I had no idea what might be in it but one thing was for sure, something was alive in there.

Not knowing what it was, I found something to open the lid of the box with and to my amazement I found two very tiny puppies that had been thrown in the trash, loaded with fleas. 

I yanked the box out of the dumpster and at that very moment my friend Tommy happened to drive by and immediately stopped his vehicle. We pulled out my hose and Tommy started washing all of the fleas off these two puppies. Honest to God, we both thought at the time that both puppies were black, that's how bad they had been loaded with fleas. 

Well, it turns out one was in fact black and the other, (above) was obviously yellow. I called my Wife and told her what was going on and she immediately came to the Office and took both puppies to Dr. Tragle. We really didn't have a lot of faith that these two guys would survive because they were so young but low and behold they did and they both have truly been incredible assets to our lives. 

The black lab went to one Family member and the other, (above, Ponyo) went to my In-Laws for a period of time. After a few years we bought our home in Delmar, (lots of room to run) and we adopted Ponyo back. I fenced in a large area for our labs to keep them safe but Ponyo was an escape artist and would constantly find a way out. 

After a ton of frustration my Wife finally said, he's lived a great life Joe. If he gets out again we're just going to have to let him do his thing. Accepting there was no way we could keep this guy contained, we let him loose. Guess what, that was several years ago and NOT ONCE did he ever leave the property again. 

Every one who has visited our home knows Ponyo. He had the meanest bark, yet his tail was always wagging and he'd always greet everyone at the driveway and follow you down the long path to the house as an escort. 

Ponyo started limping and we thought he hurt his paw. We took him to the Vet only to learn he had cancer. We, (like many of you) medicated him to ease any pain and we were able to enjoy another 6 months of his incredible company. Yesterday Ponyo could no longer get up. His eyes said it all, half open, yet still wagging his tail. 

R.I.P. my old friend. They don't get any better than a rescue animal.