.August 18, 2006
It is with a heavy heart and teary eyes that I write this entry. Today, Lynn and I lost Snoopy to cancer. We loved him dearly. If any dog kept the dogs' motto of being man's best friend, it was Snoopy. It brings back memories of when Lynn and I first got him. In June 1993, Lynn was graduating from Maryland Bible College in Baltimore, MD. We had only been married for six months and she wanted a dog as her graduation gift. Although I always loved dogs, I never had one of my own, so I also was looking forward to getting a dog. I searched high and low at the animal shelters until I found the perfect dog for us. It was a four month old puppy who we named Snoopy. We bonded instantly. Although Lynn and Snoopy had a strong bond, she often kidded with me that I stole her dog because of the tight bond that Snoopy and I formed. Over the years Snoopy became such a close friend. He was always full of energy and life. No matter how bad of a day I might have had, he would never fail to cheer me up.
It was a little over a year ago that I decided to hike the entire Appalachian Trail. Snoopy was eager to hike as well. Because I was doing the trail in small sections, I expected it would take me several years to complete. Snoopy was 12 years old at the time. I doubted he would see the end of the trail with me, but didn't think the end would come so soon. This past April, we had to have two cancerous lumps removed from Snoopy. He seemed to make a full recovery. The vet was amazed how fit Snoopy was for a dog his age. If all the cancer was removed, he expected that Snoopy would live another 4 or 5 years. It wasn't meant to be. Snoopy did however have a few more months of hikes in him. We brought him to Pennsylvania and New Jersey where with great determination he showed he was a cancer survivor. During the beginning of July, we went to Vermont. Snoopy went on several long hikes in just a few days, some of them over 20 miles. He was now 13 1/2 years old (95 in people years) and seemed as fit as ever.
On July 8th, Snoopy and I went on another AT hike in Maine. It was a 13 mile roundtrip hike. We took 2 side trips to 4,000 foot mountains climbing both Spaulding Mountain and Mount Abraham. While on Mount Abraham he seemed more tired than usual. In fact on this hike, he stayed right with me. He didn't hold me up, but he is usually way ahead of me and has to continually wait for me. This was my first clue that something was wrong.
The week following this, Snoopy really showed signs of slowing down. It was a very hot July for Maine and I attributed Snoopy's behavior to the heat. The weather cooled and he immediately showed signs of improvement, but within a few days he wasn't feeling well again. He was also starting to lose his appetite. This had me worried since in the 13 years that Lynn and I had him, he was an eating machine. I thought that maybe his dog food had gone bad. I switched dog food brands and he started to eat again. Over the next few days he again showed signs of improvement. It was short lived however. By the 3rd week of August, he was really slowing down and was losing weight rapidly.
While home on my lunch break on August 17, he was laying on his bed next to the couch. I asked him to come and he just looked at me. I asked again. He tried to get up and looked at me as if to say "I want to come. I just can't." I knew it was time. We made an appointment with the vet. Lynn and I were sure it was cancer, but we just wanted to make sure it wasn't as simple as an infection and maybe he would just need antibiotics. The vet felt his stomach area and said that his spleen was greatly enlarged. She said that cancer was throughout his spleen and probably his liver. She said she could take x-rays to confirm, but Lynn and I already knew. Although tired he didn't really seem to be in pain so we decided to bring him home for one more week.
He is a fighter and that night when I asked him if he wanted to go for a walk he trotted to the door. We went for a very short walk down the street and into the woods. The berries were ripe so I picked berries and allowed Snoopy to sniff around for a while. For supper, he ate a fairly decent helping and then we gave him a special treat. We gave him an empty jar of maple cream to lick clean and a few bites of ice cream. I had a horrible night's sleep. I knew Snoopy was in pain. I was more aware than ever that he was constantly uncomfortable and was having some trouble breathing. The next morning Lynn and I talked. We couldn't keep him another week. He was starting to show signs of being in pain and it would be selfish of us to keep him.
That afternoon, we went for one last walk together. One of the neighbors said, "There goes Snoopy. He is in such good shape for his age." We didn't have the heart to tell her that this was his last walk. After the short walk we stopped at Lynn's parents who live next door. They said their good byes to Snoopy. Then I had to do the toughest thing I ever had to do. I had to take my best pal to the vet and have him put to sleep. Snoopy was always so smart. When we were bringing him back to the room, he stopped at the front desk and stepped on the scale to be weighed. One of the workers said, "You're a good boy Snoopy, but we don't need to weigh you this time." We made him as comfortable as we could on a blanket. Lynn and I stayed with him until the end, gently patting him. The vet quietly said that his heart had stopped. She said it so quietly, but yet her voice was deafening as the reality of it hit us. We stayed with him for a couple of minutes, gently patted his head, kissed him, and said good bye as we wrapped the blanket around him.
I don't regret the surgery we put him through in April. I think he really enjoyed his last few months. I took him for plenty of long hikes in the woods. Although he became very mellow in his last couple weeks I really don't feel he was in any real pain until the last day or two. I have not only lost my dog but my friend, hiking companion, and AT crew member. Part of me wants to never again step foot on the Appalachian Trail, but I know Snoopy would be disappointed in me for quitting so Lynn and I still plan to go to Virginia next week and begin the next leg of the journey. The first couple of hikes without him will be very painful.
In memory of Snoopy, I have put some pictures together.
Snoopy at Home
Snoopy hated baths but was always obedient. I remember one day I mentioned the word 'bath'. A few seconds later we heard Snoopy get into the bathtub. All we had to do was mention 'bath' and in he would go. It got to the point where I didn't have to say anything. If I held up his doggy shampoo, he would put himself in the bathtub.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After the bath, he hated being wet. He would always slide around on the carpet and dive bomb his bed trying to dry off his face.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
He wasn't always successful. In the picture below he is still one soggy doggy.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Here he is dried off and comfy on his bed.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
This is the dog I plan to remember. Full of life, playful and kind. He used to love to play. He would get into the position in the picture below just before I would chase him through the house. He loved to be chased. He also loved hid and seek. I could never win at hidding, his nose would always find me.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Snoopy's Last Night
Lynn with Snoopy, her 1993 graduation gift.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Snoopy licks out a tasty treat. When he is done with a treat like this, Lynn had him trained to throw the container in the trash. This time we did it for him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Best Pals
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Snoopy's Final Hours
On Snoopy's last morning Lynn tried to give him some treats but he was not interested. It hurt to see this, but was confirmation to us that we were doing the right thing.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Snoopy was a terrific dog, but he wasn't always a perfect angel. Over the years we did have trouble with him sneaking onto the couch from time to time. This was off limits unless he was invited. Today I gave him a special invitation. He needed my help getting up there.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Lynn's sister Lisa was also close to Snoopy. She came by to say good bye.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The picture below didn't come out that well because I took the picture through a window, but I just had to show it. Snoopy was so faithful to say good bye to me from the window whenever I left.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The picture below is a typical picture of Snoopy. He was a very smart dog but a couple of things he never got the hang of. Whenever he laid on his bed, he wouldn't position himself right and his head would end up on the floor. This is his spare bed that we leave in the den. His regular bed is much larger and he would still miss.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Snoopy and I went on thousands of walks together, today's very short walk would be the last. We went at his speed and allowed him to sniff as much as he wanted.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Many commented on how many tricks Snoopy knew. They said I did a good job teaching him. I would tell them that I didn't do much. Snoopy instictively knew the tricks, he just had to teach me the commands.
The first trick we taught Snoopy was to shake and it was the last trick that he would perform.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Lynn came to join us for the last minute or two of our walk. When Snoopy saw her coming, he trotted part way toward her, but she had to come the rest of the way to meet him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
As we walked the one block from the woods back to our house, I got more confirmation that I was doing the right thing. I had Snoopy's leash lightly laying across one finger and there was slack in the leash. Snoopy always had so much energy. In the 13 years we had him, he never failed to pull me down the road. I hated when he did that, but today I would love nothing more.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Just before our house we stopped at Lynn's parents who live next door. They loved Snoopy too. Ray and Fran don't have any grandchildren but they called Snoopy their granddog. Snoopy used to love to visit because they frequently barbequed.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The time we spent in the car and at the vet was too painful so we don't have any pictures. But when we got home we gathered Snoopy's things together. We set up a little memorial to remember him by. We realize that the death of a pet cannot even come close to comparing to the death of a person, but Lynn and I don't have children so this hit us extra hard. This little memorial that we left up for the weekend, helped us deal with the loss.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hiking the Appalachian Trail
I had 13 great years with Snoopy, but our last year was the greatest as we hiked about a quarter of the Appalachian Trail together and that is why I have saved these pictures for last. These were the happiest times that I had with Snoopy. Below, Snoopy and Lynn meet me at Old Forge Picnic Area in PA.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Snoopy at Sunfish Pond in NJ.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Whenever I put my pack down, Snoopy would stay right with it. He knew I wouldn't be going anywhere without it. He figured if he stayed with the pack he wouldn't be left behind.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Here we are in the trail town of Duncannon, PA.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Lynn and Snoopy meet me in a field in NJ.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The day we climbed Wildcat Mountain was rugged, so Snoopy enjoyed a nap by Lost Pond
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Only once did I regret taking Snoopy on the trail. It was when I took him through the infamous Mahoosuc Notch. He did great getting through the notch but it left him tired for the remaining miles of the hike. I gave him plenty of rest throughout the hike. Lynn came in to meet me toward the end of the hike. When she found us, we stopped to talk. When we turned around Snoopy was resting on the trail. Don't let the picture fool you. Yes, he was tired, but he loved every minute he was on the trail. Snoopy had so much energy. With the exception of the last couple weeks of his life, this was the only time I was able to wear him out.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Snoopy loved climbing to mountain tops. Here he is on Mount Hight.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Resting in the car after a long hike.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
At Pochuck Swamp in NJ, Lynn and Snoopy came to meet me. You can see Lynn way in the back. Once Snoopy saw me, he ran way ahead of her to greet me.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
There were not many obstacles that Snoopy couldn't overcome. But when we came down North Carter Mountain there were a few tricky spots where I needed to help him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Here we are in Pennsylvania. I don't remember the exact spot. This was a couple weeks after his first run in with cancer. You can still see his shaved hind end.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Snoopy on the summit of Mount Madison. He also climbed nearby Mount Washington, the highest point in the northeast. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera that day.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Snoopy by Carter Lakes
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Another shot of Snoopy on Mount Hight.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Snoopy on Mount Moriah
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Rain or shine, Snoopy always wanted to go hiking. We got soaked the day we were by this giant AT symbol near Rangeley but dry by the AT symbol at Grafton Notch.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Here is Snoopy on Mount Abraham. I didn't know it at the time, but although I would take Snoopy on one more very short hike, this would be Snoopy's last big hike. Mount Abraham is one of the most beautiful mountains I have hiked, so I am glad Snoopy had one last chance to be above treeline and breath the fresh mountain air.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It is hard for me to believe that my best friend went downhill so fast. Just six weeks ago he was climbing the tallest mountains in Maine and going on 20 mile hikes. Since we got him from a dog pound, we never really knew what breed he was until a couple of years ago. I met a dog on the trail that looked very similar to Snoopy, but much larger. I asked the owner and she said her dog was a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. After doing some research on the Internet I found that there are four breeds that are in the Swiss Mountain Dog family. I believe that Snoopy was mixed with at least one of these breeds. Once we knew he was a Swiss Mountain Dog, it became clear why Snoopy loved the mountains so much.
Snoopy was 13 1/2 when he passed. We are grateful to God for giving us such a loving dog and allowing him to live a full healthy life up until his last few weeks. Snoopy, we will miss you.
In Memory of
Snoopy
Man's Best Friend
January ?, 1993 - August 18, 2006
| 
