As a pet photographer I’ve written a few posts saying goodbye to past clients and wishing them well on their journey. Today it is time to do that again, only now it is my dog I’m wishing well. Harry lost his battle against a very aggressive form a cancer last night, just two weeks shy of his 11th birthday.
Harry was a truly amazing dog, not only because he was my dog and I loved him dearly; everyone who met him thought he was an amazing dog. The weekend we learned he had cancer, no less than 30 people came to see him. Good friends of ours, family, kids he has played with and even a former student from years ago who has fond memories of Harry in her 6th grade classroom.
I could say many, many wonderful things about this soul, but I’ll sum it up with these few things:
He was my photographic inspiration and the reason I became a pet photographer. He was a very patient model and spoiled me for taking photos of any other dog.
He could fly, and leap and jump and flip. He loved his ball, his Frisbee a day at the beach, to swim and swim and swim some more. He was an incredibly easy-going dog; bullet proof. Never had to worry about taking him anywhere. He visited seniors in assisted living facilities, worked with kids as a reading dog and spent years in a classroom of 6th and 7th graders helping them learn.
He was smart, tuned into people’s emotions, could sneeze on command. He hated baths, water bottles and was very picky about what water bowl he would drink out of; even passing up water when he was thirsty. After every walk he wanted to immediately go out to backyard and survey his domain. Even is his last days he got excited about a trip to the backyard.
He had countless friends.
He brought me the love of life and we are now bereft without him. “Goodnight sweet prince, and flights of angels sing you to your rest.”