A little over 13 years ago I was
driving home from shopping when I spied a sign posted on a driveway
that read “Beagle Puppies.” I was not in the market for a dog at
the time but my friend Christine had been searching and a beagle was
her first choice. I called her when I arrived home, told her of the
sign and left it at that. She sounded tired and I didn't think she
would be looking any more that day.
About mid-afternoon I was out in the
yard doing what I did best at that time, digging a hole. I used to
love to dig holes in my yard, it was great therapy. As I was digging,
Christine pulled her car into my driveway and I could see her smiling
from ear to ear. She got out of the car and walked over to me.
Cradled in her arms was the most beautiful little beagle puppy I had
ever seen. So tiny and precious this little ball of fur fit perfectly
into my cupped hands.
Emily the Beagle as you can tell owns a
special place in my heart. Even though she was not mine I had a
connection to this wonderful dog like no other animal. She had
wandered off the property several weeks after her arrival and her
family and I were in a state of panic. We enlisted the help of
neighbors who went scurrying about and we searched frantically
for what seemed like hours with no luck. As dusk was setting in I
ventured into the horse field adjacent to the property and saw Emily
trying to find her way back. Like some ridiculous Disney movie, I
called to her and she came running to me as I ran to her. (I swear to
god this is the truth). I picked her up and carried her back to her
yard, and that's when I believe we became best friends.
Emily the Beagle had lots of friends in
her life, there was Abbey who lived next door, a wonderful lab that
she looked up to like a big sister, Sir Cedrick of Cornwall a feisty
little dachsund who she played with on special visits, Mugsy Rose a
tough guy who lived down the street but thought Emily was just the
greatest thing and her newest friend Iko the pug who was like an
annoying little brother that she couldn't do without. They were her
dog friends and they were good friends to her. But Emily had human
friends too.
Christine and Paul were her world, she
went everywhere and did everything with them. She waited at the door
for them when they couldn't bring her with them and danced the beagle
dance of joy when they got home. She was faithful beyond expectation
as proved when she would not leave leave Christine's side during a
serious illness, I am sure it was that devotion that helped in
Christine's miraculous recovery. She loved Sam and Will who she
watched grow from teenagers to two of the finest young men you would
ever have the pleasure to meet.
The Roses were favorites of hers as
well as Judy (owner of Sir Cedrick of Cornwall), Mike Droblish who
cared for her when she couldn't go on a particular trip and of course
Karen, Maureen and Caroline. But Emily the Beagle was one of my best
friends. I never dog sat for Emily, that would mean she was a pet. We
had sleep-overs, because that's what best friends do. I never walked
Emily, we went for walks, because that's what you do with a friend. I
never pet Emily, I mushed her because she loved it. Not like that
nasty Franklin the Bad Beagle who almost took my nose off because I
made the mistake of thinking all beagles were like Emily. How could I
ever had made that mistake? All beagles are not like Emily.
Christine and Paul had to make the
hardest decision they could today, almost 13 years to the day that
Emily and I became best friends. I went to see her this afternoon so
that I could mush her one last time, to whisper in her ear that I
loved her, and to spend a few minutes remembering why this wonderful
animal who brought nothing but joy to everyone she met was my friend.
Emily went to sleep today and a little
part of me went to sleep with her.
