Hoss 1989 - 2003
14 years ago, I went to the Animal Rescue Shelter to find a nice puppy to take home. I had recently moved out of my parents house and was about to get married. Having grown up with dogs, I missed having one around.
As I walked into the animal shelter, I had to pass an area where they kept the older dogs before getting to the section where they had the puppies. They were all barking and jumping around except for one. He just walked up to the front of his cage, sat down and stared at me with the most woeful eyes I had ever seen. He was a goofy looking dog. He was half Labrador Retriever, and half Basset Hound. He looked like a full blooded Lab, but he had short little legs. I never made it to the puppy section because something clicked, and I knew right away that this was my dog. His name was Hoss.
Hoss was with me for 14 years, through my divorce, through good times and bad. He was always faithful. He never growled at or bit a soul in his entire life. He just didn't have a mean bone in his body. When I would go on vacation, I would leave him with my parents who he loved dearly. But he would lay by the door patiently for days, waiting for me to return. When I returned, he would go crazy with excitement for a few minutes, then go lay down with his back to me and ignore me for a day or two. I think he had an abandonment complex from whoever dropped him off at the pound, and was afraid I would never come back.
After 14 years of love and companionship, Hoss succombed to cancer and I had to bring him to the vet and have him put to sleep. He was so weak he couldn't even walk, and I had to carry him through the door. I thought I had prepared myself for the day when I would have to do this, but I cried uncontrolably like a baby right in front of everyone. Sometimes I still do when I think about him. I sure do miss that dog.
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> Hoss
Rest in Peace. You were the best friend I ever had.
