I received some sad news today. I think the email contained one of the sweetest eulogies for a pet I have ever read. I decided to share it with you. I will miss him too.:
Elvis Russell
1997-2006
Elvis left us last night, 2/18/2006. Our lives were richer for having known him, and now seem smaller in his absence.
Elvis was born in August, 1997 and joined our family in October, 1997. He was the runt of the litter, but absolutely the sweetest little puppy you could imagine. Tami and I fell in love with him at first sight...there were several of his litter-mates to choose from, but there was never any real question who we would be adopting. On the ride home, cradling her new baby, Tami gave him the name Elvis. I, of course, thought the name was perfect.
While Tami and I were elated with the newest addition to our family, Elvis' older brothers (Fuzzball, Spot, and Moo Kitty) were less than thrilled. Over the first few weeks at his new home Elvis was made aware of the pecking order among the "kids". As time went on he was begrudgingly accepted by the cats and eventually considered a friend, playmate, and brother to them. On numerous occasions over the years the cats (especially Fuzzball) would try to get Elvis in trouble by running, as if terrorized, through the house with Elvis making chase. It was only when they thought nobody was paying attention that the cats would reverse course and chase Elvis through the house. I can't even begin to count the times I'd see a huge pile of cat and dog sleeping together in a corner somewhere.
With his sweet and gentle nature Elvis never met a person he didn't like. There was, however, one incident when his feelings of joyful delight were not returned by his new playmate. Tami and I had ordered a pizza for delivery and when the driver showed up at our door Elvis naturally accompanied me to say hello. With his big goofy grin (and his tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth) Elvis looked up at his new friend and gave a short howl of welcome. The delivery driver, obviously not in the mood to play with an 80 pound dog, turned tail and ran as fast as he could. Elvis took this as a sign that he was supposed to chase the poor driver and proceeded to literally knock me over as he bounded out the door after his new friend. With my encouraging yell of, "Don't run, stupid!" to the driver they were off. Across the street the driver ran with Elvis in hot pursuit. Through the neighbor's yard he fled as Elvis gained ground. Over the neighbor's bushes the driver jumped as Elvis stopped to ponder just what this new playmate was up to. CRASH! Right into the neighbor's glass door ran the driver as Elvis (and my neighbors who were sitting on their front porch at the time) looked at him like he just might be crazy. Fortunately for Elvis no charges were filed and this incident never appeared on his record.
I would be remiss if I claimed that Elvis' record was spotless. As a puppy Elvis decided one day that, as fascinating as his yard was, there might be something interesting to see on the other side of the fence. He left his chain, collar, and identification tags by the tree in the yard and absconded through a small opening in the fence to seek his fortune. Unaccustomed to life on the streets Elvis turned to a life of petty crime and small confidence scams. His trustworthy nature, however, would be his undoing. As he approached a friendly looking man on a street corner he unwittingly fell into an SPCA sting operation. He was arrested, pawprinted, and charged with several offences. I was forced to bail him out of jail but I was able to convince the officials to drop the charges as he was a minor and had never been in trouble with the law before. OK, to be honest he got out, made it to the street, jumped in a stranger's car, and was immediately driven to the animal shelter. I think my version of events is more interesting, though.
On November 1, 1999 Elvis became a big brother to our new baby boy Hayden. Elvis loved him immediately, and over the course of the next 6 years and 2 more babies the most common phrase in our house was, "ELVIS! Don't lick the baby!". He never kept his tongue in his mouth for long. After a while I think we just said it because it seemed the right thing to do. It might have seemed icky to the babies, but at least we didn't have to wash them as often.
Elvis truly loved the children. He was a good and loyal friend and companion to them and to us. He is irreplaceable. As time goes on we will learn to love other puppies, other dogs. We will have other loyal companions, to be sure. But we will never have another Elvis. There is a hole in our hearts that will never be filled. In time they will heal but they will never be completely whole again. Those holes are where Elvis lived.
We miss our friend. We love you, Elvis.
John, Tami, Hayden, Meredith, and Stephanie
Elvis Russell1997-2006
Elvis left us last night, 2/18/2006. Our lives were richer for having known him, and now seem smaller in his absence.
Elvis was born in August, 1997 and joined our family in October, 1997. He was the runt of the litter, but absolutely the sweetest little puppy you could imagine. Tami and I fell in love with him at first sight...there were several of his litter-mates to choose from, but there was never any real question who we would be adopting. On the ride home, cradling her new baby, Tami gave him the name Elvis. I, of course, thought the name was perfect.
While Tami and I were elated with the newest addition to our family, Elvis' older brothers (Fuzzball, Spot, and Moo Kitty) were less than thrilled. Over the first few weeks at his new home Elvis was made aware of the pecking order among the "kids". As time went on he was begrudgingly accepted by the cats and eventually considered a friend, playmate, and brother to them. On numerous occasions over the years the cats (especially Fuzzball) would try to get Elvis in trouble by running, as if terrorized, through the house with Elvis making chase. It was only when they thought nobody was paying attention that the cats would reverse course and chase Elvis through the house. I can't even begin to count the times I'd see a huge pile of cat and dog sleeping together in a corner somewhere.
With his sweet and gentle nature Elvis never met a person he didn't like. There was, however, one incident when his feelings of joyful delight were not returned by his new playmate. Tami and I had ordered a pizza for delivery and when the driver showed up at our door Elvis naturally accompanied me to say hello. With his big goofy grin (and his tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth) Elvis looked up at his new friend and gave a short howl of welcome. The delivery driver, obviously not in the mood to play with an 80 pound dog, turned tail and ran as fast as he could. Elvis took this as a sign that he was supposed to chase the poor driver and proceeded to literally knock me over as he bounded out the door after his new friend. With my encouraging yell of, "Don't run, stupid!" to the driver they were off. Across the street the driver ran with Elvis in hot pursuit. Through the neighbor's yard he fled as Elvis gained ground. Over the neighbor's bushes the driver jumped as Elvis stopped to ponder just what this new playmate was up to. CRASH! Right into the neighbor's glass door ran the driver as Elvis (and my neighbors who were sitting on their front porch at the time) looked at him like he just might be crazy. Fortunately for Elvis no charges were filed and this incident never appeared on his record.
I would be remiss if I claimed that Elvis' record was spotless. As a puppy Elvis decided one day that, as fascinating as his yard was, there might be something interesting to see on the other side of the fence. He left his chain, collar, and identification tags by the tree in the yard and absconded through a small opening in the fence to seek his fortune. Unaccustomed to life on the streets Elvis turned to a life of petty crime and small confidence scams. His trustworthy nature, however, would be his undoing. As he approached a friendly looking man on a street corner he unwittingly fell into an SPCA sting operation. He was arrested, pawprinted, and charged with several offences. I was forced to bail him out of jail but I was able to convince the officials to drop the charges as he was a minor and had never been in trouble with the law before. OK, to be honest he got out, made it to the street, jumped in a stranger's car, and was immediately driven to the animal shelter. I think my version of events is more interesting, though.
On November 1, 1999 Elvis became a big brother to our new baby boy Hayden. Elvis loved him immediately, and over the course of the next 6 years and 2 more babies the most common phrase in our house was, "ELVIS! Don't lick the baby!". He never kept his tongue in his mouth for long. After a while I think we just said it because it seemed the right thing to do. It might have seemed icky to the babies, but at least we didn't have to wash them as often.
Elvis truly loved the children. He was a good and loyal friend and companion to them and to us. He is irreplaceable. As time goes on we will learn to love other puppies, other dogs. We will have other loyal companions, to be sure. But we will never have another Elvis. There is a hole in our hearts that will never be filled. In time they will heal but they will never be completely whole again. Those holes are where Elvis lived.
We miss our friend. We love you, Elvis.
John, Tami, Hayden, Meredith, and Stephanie
3 comments:
man i am such a sappy person that i never met the dog, but still teared up a litte as i read it.
Rest in Peace Elvis. What a great name for a dog, and a wonderful well written memorial, I laughed and cried. Thanks for sharing it.
There are a couple of Malamute breeders who are posting this on their site as well. Don't have their website addresses though.
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