Author Jon Katz wrote about people who love dogs who often talk about a ‘lifetime’ dog … dogs we love in especially powerful, sometimes inexplicable ways.
When my “once in a lifetime” dog entered my life, I was attending college and planning a wedding. A dog certainly wasn’t on my “to-do” list at the time.
Cold and shivering, this female border collie/shepherd mix had been mercilessly dropped off on our doorstep in the dead of winter. Luckily for the dog, my husband-to-be had a tender heart and sheltered her at the farm until we were wed.
From that day forward, Annie was our constant companion and the eventual protector of our children. For 13 years, we were blessed with her presence in our lives and with the many lessons she imparted to our growing family.
Whether we pick them out of a litter of squirming pups, rescue them from a shelter, or the side of the road, these four-legged canine friends leave an indelible mark on our lives.
This poodle was ‘smart as a whip’
While Kathy Werner’s poodle, Sophie, could be a handful at times, the dog was “smart as a whip” and a helping hand around the house.
“If someone needed something upstairs, I would give it to Sophie and she would deliver it to them,” the North Fond du Lac woman said. “If you dropped anything from a screw to a watering can, she would look at you as if to ask ‘shall I get that for you?’ and all I’d have to say is ‘help me out here’ and off she’d go to fetch it for me.”
Sophie’s tasks were many; taking the laundry out of the dryer, fetching the newspaper off the front porch and then delivering the paper to the recycle bin afterward.
“At Christmas, the nephews and nieces would laugh as she collected the discarded wrapping paper,” Werner said.
Former Fond du Lac resident Cynthia Parman taught one of her German shepherds to spell.
“I’d spell out ball, leash or walk and she would bring the ball or run to the closet to get her leash,” Parman said. “She wasn’t a pup either at the time. It just goes to show you can teach an old dog new tricks.”
Pets are therapeutic for their owners
Shannon Weinke and her husband had no idea that a small, fluffy bundle would help them to escape from under the cloud of depression that dogged their lives.
“Rescuing her was the best thing,” Weinke said. “In the three years that we’ve had LillyAnn my husband hasn’t had one single bout of depression.”
Weinke says she also suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and often experiences panic attacks.
“When that happens, she’s right there to help calm me down,” Weinke said. “We love our LillyAnn and thank God every day for her.”
This little scrap of a dog provided many wonderful times
Living on a farm for many years, Dorothy Gransee had her share of Sheps and Rovers that entered and exited her life – each special in its way. However, a little scrap of a dog found lost and nearly starved to death in a marsh near Omro changed the Fond du Lac woman’s life.
As time went on, Gransee discovered many endearing qualities in the little Jack Russell terrier.
“Whenever the phone rang he would run for me, leading me to believe his previous owner couldn’t hear well,” Gransee said. “And whenever 4 o’clock would come around he would let me know it was time for supper.”
As the years passed, the little dog’s health began to deteriorate, including the loss of hearing and eyesight and the ability to jump onto his elderly companion’s bed.
“Barely a day goes by without my remembering our wonderful times together,” Gransee said. “In my advanced years, these memories are all so precious.”
It was love at first sight for this dog owner
Sarah Glynn had always been fond of the German shepherd breed and when it was time to pick out a puppy on Valentine’s Day 2005 she was up to the task.
“I sat on the floor with all the puppies and Kiera jumped into my lap and never left. It was love at first sight,” Glynn said.
The bond between Glynn and her newfound friend was instant.
“She was my baby girl, my shadow and my best friend,” Glynn said.
And when the family added Keenan and Kaleb, Kiera became their big sister and gentle protector, stepping outside of her comfort zone to follow Keenan out into the rain and sprinkler and up onto the trampoline.
“She’s been a perfect fit for our family,” Glynn said. “I can’t imagine having a better dog than Kiera.”
Best dog ever was a 20-year wait
Terry and Susan Leininger of Campbellsport waited nearly 20 years before they were ready to take on the commitment of adding a mouth to feed and another “family member” to care for.
In 1995, Terry showed up at Susan’s office with a 4-month-old Golden Retriever mix puppy in his arms.
“It didn’t take more than a minute to say yes!” Susan Leininger said.
Their 8-year-old son Anthony was overjoyed at the new addition that quickly became part of the family. Anthony would bestow the name Angie on the congenial pup.
“She always greeted us with her unconditional love and smile and wagging tail,” Leininger said.
The family’s photo album over the 11 years that Angie lived with the family is full of photographs of young Anthony hanging out with his canine companion in front of the TV or out in the snow, Susan feeding Angie (donning a party hat) an ice cream cone or the golden-furred beauty holding court on the retaining wall in front of the family’s home.
“It’s amazing to look back at photos and notice how she grew up right alongside Anthony, our only child,” Leininger said. “They were great friends and when he left for college they missed each other a lot.”
Anthony made the sad trek home in Oct. 2006 after Angie was struck by a car while making her way home through the rain.
“We buried her in our yard in a spot that she loved to lay on and dig up occasionally,” Leininger said. “We were truly blessed to have so many wonderful memories of our life with her. Our hearts still ache for her. Every dog is special, but we think our Angie was the best dog ever.”
This column was previously published in The Reporter in 2013.
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