Buddy, 20?? - 2024
In the neighborhood I grew up in there was a dog named Shannon. To this day I'd probably count her as the nicest dog I've ever met. She was a Sheltie who was eager to make friends with everybody she encountered - including kids - and had boundless energy for play, especially if a tennis ball was involved. She was a joy to be around. When I was seven years old what I wanted more than anything in the world was a dog of my own. As luck would have it, Shannon was due to have a litter of puppies around that time and my parents agreed that we could adopt one. In the summer of 1990 we had a new family member named Mickey. He was an interesting looking mutt with the body frame and hair texture of his mother combined with floppy ears and the hair color of a Rottweiler. More importantly, he inherited Shannon's friendless and desire for playtime, albeit with the protective streak of a shepherd as he barked at any living thing that dared come near the house. Life with Mickey was everyt...