A Loyal Guardian

(This is one of the most bittersweet Success Stories we at HB have received on on of our alums.  Thank you to the Rice Family for sharing it with us.)

A short time after we invited him into our home, I would hear him get up at 2 a.m. every night. I followed him once without him knowing. ..

He walked down the stairs very quietly and walked to every door where he paused and looked. Checking carefully, he would look out the windows into the yard. He would then climb back up the stairs to my son’s room… There he would pause checking to be sure that everything was where it was suppose to be. A slow walk across the hall would bring him to my daughters room, where he inspected the room, checking carefully that the little girl sleeping there was where she was supposed to be. Finally he would step quietly back to our room where he would go to my wife’s side of the bed and check. He would lean in close, to be very sure, because she was his favorite. I, now lying in bed pretending sleep, would sense him on my side of the bed. After a short time he would lean close and give me a lick in the face. The only salute a dog can do.  “All present and accounted for sir!!!!” He would silently report. 

Cheddar has done this every night for most of his life. Eventually I got him to stop waking me up… at 2 am, but he made his rounds every night. He wanted to be sure his pack was safe. He belonged and he was loved. He had a job. He did the best a dog can do.

He is in his final days now. The spark has gone out of his eyes and he can no longer make his rounds because his bones hurt and he is not steady on his feet. I will try the prednisone one more time, to see if he can come back. But I am not going to let him suffer. It is hard to think that 10 years ago someone threw him away. Someone thought he was junk.

Such a loyal guardian… Such a kind soul…

I don’t know if you rememeber Cheddar, just thought you would like to know that we are going to have to say goodbye to Cheddar shortly there are no words for how much we will miss him. 

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