|
Promise....
Everyone who loves dogs has a “Heart Dog”. Nancy Freedman-Smith
describes them this way: “A heart dog makes you think you
could never own another dog because your heart will break when
you lose them. A heart dog has an inexplicable connection to you
- and you alone.”
My best friend Sarah had to send her Heart Dog, Promise, to the
Bridge last Friday.
Promise was a drop-dead-gorgeous Golden Retriever.
My family met her when she was five – in the prime of her
life. My elderly Yellow Lab, Chapin, was in love with her. We
laughingly compared the two to the Football Hero and The Cheerleader.
Promise led a perfect dog life. She was born in
a kennel in a corner of Sarah’s grooming shop at Valley
Animal Hospital in Merced, CA on August 3, 1992. She began a career
as a show dog and was major-pointed before x-rays revealed the
first occurrence of bad hips in four generations of both of her
parents. That precluded motherhood for her and she went on to
become titled in Obedience.
Promise also enjoyed a theater career when she
played the role of Sandy in a local production of “Annie”
at the Colombia Repertory Theater. She never forgot her cue music
and as long as she could hear, she became excited when she heard
the tune.
In 1997, she made the arduous journey to Alaska
with her family – her mom, Peaches and buddies Keeshah,
Amber, and Jenny Lindh. She embraced the role of Alpha in her
pack and Kiss and Indy respected her to the end.
She embarked on a new career as Spokesdog for
Chugach Electric’s fledgling Internet Service Provider,
Chugach.net in 1999. Promise appeared in television and print
ads that touted the tag line “Roll over to Chugach.net.”
Longtime Alaskans recall the images of her standing on two legs
with her paws on a keyboard and a red ball with the Chugach.net
logo in her mouth (photo above). She autographed posters and even
had her own web page and blog long before most.
Her most enduring gig was as the mascot for Golden
Days Pet Grooming and Dog Day Care since its inception in 2000.
She greeted canine and human customers every day and her calm
demeanor reassured even the most tentative attendees.
Promise lived every day of her life sure that
humans were put on this earth to love and pet her. She adored
meeting the public, especially Dog Jog, where she made 12 consecutive
appearances.
No one who met her will ever forget her. She has
left a hole in the hearts of so many friends – her Uncle
Kevin, her physical therapist Collette, her Vet, Dr. Eklund, Jose,
Peg, me, and of course Sarah.
We love you still, Promise, and we’ll see
you at the Bridge.
|
