1-5-2013 10:59am
10 minutes ago I was walking my dog and stopped to talk to a woman. Odie, my golden retriever was saying, “hurroooooo.” Translation: “hello.”
I was telling the lady how I once had a german shepherd that would come bounding out of the house – all 140 pounds of him. Excitedly, he would race across the lawn to the car, when I would come home from work, saying “hurroooo mom!” All the kids heard him, too!
Just today, 10 mins after I spoke with this lady I ran across this picture on fb. Kinda like a hug from Heaven. I think it was only yesterday or the day before I asked The Lord to Say hi to him for me. Wow! Answered prayer! So sweet! The love of our pets never goes away….
This picture below is my “Moose” who is in Heaven now. The little guy is my youngest son at about 2 1/2. Jeffrey is now grown, married and has two little ones. One of them is about the same age as he was in this picture. Moose was a gorgeous dog – he could have been a show dog. He was an amazing watchdog.
At one time, we were living in a beautifully refurbished farmhouse in upstate New York. It was way out in the country near Vermont. As a single mom, I was working on getting my master’s degree, with three young children to support. While the children and I were out in the backyard one day, Moose found a snake in the grass only about 40-50 feet from where we were playing. Fearlessly, he kept picking the snake up in his mouth, throwing it up into the air over and over again. Who taught him that??? Each time it landed on the ground, another blow was dealt until finally it was dead. We didn’t even know it was there. Moose was so protective that he didn’t even want to let anyone into the house near the children. We had bought him because we were being stalked and threatened by my ex-husband in the days before there were anti-stalking laws.
He was already 6 months old when we went to see him, and already named “Moose” which was clearly an appropriate name. He shook and shuddered all the way home, petrified of going in the car. His hind end on the floor in front of me in the passenger seat, his head tucked between my arm and my side. Very similar to seeking Shelter under The Lord’s Wing.
From that point on, he was “MY” dog. He was often labeled “my shadow,” as he continually followed me from room to room all day, to the point I’d almost trip over him if I turned around. He went from having to be dragged into the car, to us not being able to get him out! Even if we were unloading groceries, and the car door was open…he’d jump in and it would take quite awhile and more than a couple of dog treats to coax him out. Every Christmas, we’d open a whole package of hot dogs and wrap it for him. He’d move the other presents out of the way til he got them. It was an annual event that everyone enjoyed – especially Moose! He knew he was loved.
Dogs have always been a member of our family. Even though he was an amazingly protective dog, my kids could roll around on the floor and all over him. He would be so gentle with them. Moose would make the rounds from one child’s room to the other, all through the night. I’d hear him on the stairs, checking out the living room and other parts of the home, constantly on watch. He’d sometimes climb up on my double bed. I’d find myself on the floor when at some point, he decided to stretch all four paws. He was a big dog! He couldn’t help that he needed more bed space than I did!
Being a single mom is not an easy job. There were never enough monies. Long hours, 2-3 jobs, trying to better myself through schooling, and no child support. The house we rented was one of only two homes on our private road, another seen through the wooded areas below us. I loved the quiet, the woods, and the fact that the children could play outside safely as the grounds and driveway gave them lots of space. Give me the country every time! Never was a city person. Always loved long walks in the woods with a book, refreshments, and my guitar.
Long before Jeffrey came along, my youngest daughter Sandy, at age 9, would arrive home from school only a few minutes prior to her older brother and sister. One day, she came home and found blood all through the house, and the windows on the garage door broken. Moose had chased a burglar away, injuring himself in the process. He literally ripped the 1″ x 2″ off this old wooden, overhead door, and cut his paws on the broken glass. It was clear he was trying to get out to go after the intruder. His blood was found at all three of the doors in the living room, and kitchen. Sandy called me quite upset while I was at work. I got an adult to run over there quickly and be with her. No more the latchkey child after that. Letting her be home alone even for a few minutes, was never again allowed to happen. Moose was once again, our hero. After a few stitches at the vet, he remained our dear friend and guardian. I am so thankful for knowing him and still miss him to this day. Even though he’s been gone almost twenty years, and I love my dog Odie so very much, there will never be another Moose.
Thank You, Lord, for Giving him my love and thanksgiving. Thank You, Lord, for Sending the pix and reminding me what a character my Moose was. I know I’ll get to see him again one day in Your Heaven!
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