You can see Merlin, my good looking dog in a close up here, but this is my favorite picture of him.

This is Merlin. We were up in the Snowy Range in Wyoming when I took this shot of him running across this field of flowers. He was one happy dog. He died tonight of liver disease. We never could figure out why he had it. I had a time to bring him in tomorrow to be euthanized, but this very good dog went ahead and died in my arms here at home.

Merlin loved his family and friends, that’s for sure. He was definitely a mama’s dog, but he fell ‘in love’ with the daughter of a woman that worked for me. Amy is her name. All you had to do was mention “Amy” and Merlin would be at the window with goofy eyes.

His grandpa Walt was probably his favorite person. When I would leave town Merlin would stay with my mom and stepdad. Grandpa Walt liked to take walks and when Merlin was there, he always had a good excuse to take one envelope to the post office, or deposit a check at the bank, or pick up something at the hardware store. As soon as he put his hat on, or walked upstairs with an envelope Merlin knew they were going for a walk and would do his happy dance.

One time I was sitting on the porch of a local coffee shop with Merlin and some friends with their dogs. All of a sudden Merlin jumped up on the ledge and was just wiggling and wagging. What? What do you see? Well it was a man that had a hat on like the one Grandpa Walt wears. Man was he disappointed.

They always would have salmon on the grill when he was there and chances were good there would be grilled skin for Merlin to eat. Grandma would save him a peanut butter jar to lick. And I am pretty certain that Merlin got more presents at Christmas from these folks than anyone else! They’re going to miss him as much as I will.

Merlin’s Aunt Julie flew all the way from DC to see him before he got too sick. He loved her too, though he was pretty sure she was a bit odd. They liked to hang out by or in my hammock when she’d come to visit. Just a week ago he was playing ball with her.

Actually just 2 days ago he was playing ball with my dad. We had the nicest day, just hanging out at the farm in the sunshine. ‘Grandpa Goon’ came to see Merlin and they played a little ball too. There will be more tears out of that guy before the end of the day.

Let’s see – another story. One of my favorites: The dog across the street named Molly used to jump her fence all the time and then jump mine and hang out. I was never pleasant to her so she wouldn’t be encouraged, but one day I came home from work and Merlin was sitting outside acting like he was in big, big trouble. (he was never in trouble by the way – he was a good, good dog) I went in the house and whew! what a mess!!! Garbage was strewn about, the dog food bag had been ripped open and demolished, there was dirty paw prints on everything including the counter tops. I knew it was Molly, not Merlin. I just always imagined Merlin as one of the kids in the Cat in the Hat when that rascal cat comes to visit and makes such a mess. “No Molly – we don’t do that here!!! Molly – please don’t jump on the counters!! Molly!!!!”
Of course he was not in trouble.

Man he was good dog. When a few of my friends got dogs after I had Merlin, he was always held up as the standard. “How did you get Merlin to not go out the gate when it was open”. I don’t know. He just didn’t want to leave. “How do you get Merlin to stop on a trail when there are people coming vs rushing ahead?” I don’t know. He just did and then would wait for me. “How do you get Merlin to stay out of the horse pastures?”. I don’t know. He just would always wait outside the fence line unless he was invited in.

He knew English. Mom and I counted at least 200 words one time.

Anyway – he’s had a rough couple of years. A large dog attacked him, then he had a ruptured disk in his spine, then bladder stones. He’s been sick now for a couple of weeks with cirrhosis of the liver. ? (as far as I know he only drank water!) We’ve tried numerous things to get him back and the latest (steroids) might have made things worse, but it was a risk. I’ll never know. He died here with me and I’m glad I could be there for him.

Hopefully he’s enjoying a new adventure running in a field of flowers/playing with squeaky toys and swimming in whatever water hole heaven has.

I will miss him dearly.