Sam first came into my life over four years ago. I had not been looking for a dog, but it was a series of divine appointments that we should meet. First my son had agreed to take him home when a family couldn't take him when they moved. Next, he brought him to my house for the weekend. Sam was well behaved in constrast to his Jack Russell dogs who chewed on the porch furniture and tore holes in the screen. I told him that Sam could visit again. When he returned with Sam, he asked if he could stay for a week with me as he was going to be extremely busy and Sam had a tendency to wander. Although I didn't have a fenced in yard either, I agreed. Sam had done well staying in the screened in porch during the visits and going out for periodic walks. Sam never went back to my son's. I sent for his vet records and was surprised to see that his estimated age at the time was four years. He seemed older and sometimes we wondered if he could see well. We became attached. He would walk on a leash with me to get the paper and mail. I would often sit with him on the porch while I read it. We also took walks around the yard. I had a fenced in courtyard built and propped open one screen door so Sam could go out when he wanted to sit in the sun or answer a call of nature. However, my biggest fear was that he would slip out the other screen door when the wind blew it ajar or someone left it cracked. Sometimes, he did escape and usually wandered in the yard, fields, or ran over to the neighbors to see their dogs. However, one time when he was out, I couldn't spot him. I drove down towards the highway and saw some one several yards away picking him up. Although I was afraid that he was being stolen, the compassionate driver was returning him to me. Sam rarely barked except in the fall when he may have recalled chasing coons. Yet he made a good watch dog due to his size and predominately black coat. Many times someone was already up on the porch before they saw him sitting on one of his pillows. He was intimidating to repair men as well as a couple of law enforcement officers! He didn't bark or growl, he just stared at them. Someone remarked that it is the quiet dogs that can be most dangerous. One of my fondest memories was taking him to Bark for Life a few months ago where he got a scarf for participating.
We had our picture taken together which I will always treasure. On a fairly recent visit to the vet to inquire about a fatty tumor, Sam was found to have serious dental needs. He had his teeth cleaned and some pulled. A few months later, he was constantly drooling. The vet pulled a stray tooth, did a biopsy which was benign, gave him antibodics and pain pills. Recently he began drooling, having fairly dry heaves, and loosing weight. One night he couldn't get up and refused to eat. The next day, he returned to the vet. Although he moved his front feet, he could not move his back legs. He seemed in pain. His temperature was dropping. The vet stated that he could do more X-rays to see if he could find a blockage causing this new problem and if there were any treatment options. But the outcome from any such treatment couldn't be predicted. In discussing Sam's rapid move into a poor quality of life and his advancing age, I agreed Sam should not have to suffer anymore and consented that he be put to sleep. I bid my farewell and instructed Sam. my faithful companion, to wait for me on Rainbow Bridge.