Nine years ago, Lynne was driving home one evening when she saw a dog leashed to a fire hydrant. She stopped to see if the dog was okay and to try to find the owner. While she was freeing him, another dog ran up dragging a leash behind him. The two dogs seemed to know each other.
She knocked on doors, asked questions, tried to find their families. It became clear someone had abandoned one or both of them. At that time, Tim was already involved with Scout’s Honor Rescue, and the group agreed to take both dogs into their program if Lynne could foster them.
The first dog, Curly, a fluffy little Bichon Frise mix, was quickly adopted. The second dog, a chihuahua, needed some help. He needed to be neutered, and while he was sedated, they were able to take an infected pierced earring out of his ear. WHO DOES THAT? Pierces a dog’s ear?
Lynne took Paco to some adoption events, but ultimately she realized he’d already found his home with her. He was by turns funny and grumpy. Whenever he was at our house, he had two fvorite places: Tom’s lap or in front of the little space heater I keep to warm my feet during cold weather.
Sometimes he could be a little growly–he was a chihuahua, after all, but as the years passed, he mellowed. He even let the very young Lila, Lynne’s granddaughter, carry him all over the place.
For the past couple of years, Paco has dealt with failing health. From time to time, we wondered how much longer he had, then he would rally and become energetic and eager to eat and explore again. He came to love our big back yard, and though wherever Lynne and Minute, Paco’s sister, were was home, Houndstooth Hall became the place he thought was his second home.
For the past few days, it’s been hard to realize that Paco was really tired and ready to say goodbye. Lynne made the toughest decision anyone with a beloved animal companion has to make. Tom, Debby, Timothy, and I all went with the two of them so Paco would have a big, loving sendoff.
Run free, Paco, with all the dogs and cats from our lives who will greet you at the Rainbow Bridge. Stay warm until we meet again.