St. James Gate

My first dog was Harp Larger. She had to be put to sleep at age 6 because of extreme hip dysplasia. She was a black and tan large Aussie shepherd mix.

9 months later, I was volunteering at the Okeechobee county animal control when the director told me about the dog in the first kennel. This 9 month old had been caught on the Seminole Brighton Reservation and was terrified of all humans. He would run and cower, even when the nicest people brought him food and water. The director recommended I keep my head down and not make eye contact to keep him comfortable, so I decided to walk past his kennel first so he could familiarize and feed him last after he saw what I was doing. I walked by with my head down and heard lots of barking. Once out of his sight, I turned to look at the director, who was furiously motioning for me to get in his kennel. He had run up to the gate and stood up, barking like he knew me. When I went in, he licked my hand and immediately started sniffing around me playfully. He was very underweight from scrounging, but was a longer haired black and tan Aussie shepherd mix. I adopted him the next day.

I don't believe in an afterlife. If I did, the story would be that when Harp was on her way to the rainbow bridge, she saw a soon-to-be-newborn and knew I still needed her. When she came back (as a he) and couldn't find me, he ran scared until he was caught. Once he saw me, everything was right again.

He was chipped, neutered and vaccinated as the last appointment of the day. He went under sedation holding my hand, and was allowed to recover on the floor instead of a crate, so he could awaken holding my hand.

13 years later, he passed peacefully at home, holding my hand.

I love you, buddy. I can't wait to find you again.