A Life Well Lived

On the three hour drive home from the airport in May of 2002, eight week old Samba and I bonded for life. That night she crawled under my bedside stand to sleep and never willingly left my side during the following ten years.

This was a dog who did everything I ever asked of her. We tried it all, obedience classes which she aced and dog shows which she won.

She showed us from the beginning that she was a true water dog.

 

And she loved the water in any form it took.

She could be naughty on occasion. She was an expert counter surfer, once scoring a whole roast turkey, and she taught her skill to her puppies.

 

She did everything with gusto and loved chasing a ball or chewing on a stick. But her favorite toy was her spotted frisbee and she shared it with her pups.

 

She and Morgan were best friends and she  tolerated Fudge's silliness.

She and I were partners in the parenting experience. She would spend her time with me as long as we checked in on the puppies every ten minutes and I had to sit beside her as she nursed them. She seemed to be telling me that she had produced them for me and I had to share the responsibility. That was fine with me. She was a great mom and taught them to be perfect little Porties.

Mainly she was my constant companion and partner. She was beside me during good times and bad times. She never left my side. Now there is a terrible emptiness but I have so many wonderful memories. She taught me a lot about loyalty and acceptance and I'm a better person for having had her in my life.