Skippy came into our lives in the spring of 2004. He was pretty old then. He belonged to my neighobors and I was getting ready to move away. The county had just passed a leash law and they could not get Skippy to stay on a leash and since they did not have a fenced yard had to get rid of him. One day as I was packing, my neighbor asked if I wanted him. I looked at him and asked him if he wanted to live with me. Skippy stood up from under his owner's feet and walked into my house. After walking through every room and sniffing all of us, he then laid down on my porch. We moved a week later but he stayed at my house everyday after that. We knew he was special when he chose us like that. Soon after we learned that Skippy was capable of climbing any fence and chewing through any rope. Due to leash laws we soon purchased a small chain to contain him. Skippy hated staying indoors all the time and always preferred to be outside. One day, Skippy figured out how to unlatch the chain. The dog was a magician at getting free! Animal control picked him up and called me at work an hour later begging me to come get him right away. It seems he had escaped there kennels and as they said was tearing up the landfill (this county kept all animals at the landfill of all places, as if they are trash). I left work and drove there immediately. I found him hiding in some bushes and covered in mud and took him straight to the store to find something better to contain him so that would never happen again! Luckily I did find a suitable latch for his chain but despite my best efforts I never could convince him to stay inside with us. He would come in and visit but always wanted back out in the sun. Skippy was never afraid of anyone or anything and always defended our home. Once 5 pitbulls had came in our yard when the kids where outside and Skippy broke his chain from his doghouse and chased the dogs home. He didn't even get one scratch! We truly was a wonderdog! Unfortunately, Skippy died defending our family. We moved to our new home one year ago this month. We had a huge yard and put an electric fence up so that Skippy would not have to be chained anymore. Skippy loved it here. We started a small farm with rabbits, chickens, and pigs and Skippy loved and protected all of them. This past Saturday, two dogs jumped the fence and went after our chickens. Skippy sprung right into action and we all ran out to chase them off. Sadly, one of the bigger dogs got hold of him before we could get to them. On Monday, Skippy was put to sleep because the wounds were fatal and despite the surgery he had undergone, infection was setting in and nothing else could be done to ease his pain and suffering. When we made the decision to put him down I couldn't even say the words and my husband had to take care of it. Skippy just looked at us with his trusting eyes. We could see he was in pain and scared but then he gave us just one last look full of all the love and life that we were so used to seeing. I will never forget that last look our baby gave us as if to say goodbye. He holds a special place in all of our hearts and can never be replaced. Today, we buried him in his favorite spot in the yard, between two pine trees where he always loved to lay down. I know he is in a better place where nothing can ever harm him again.