Goodbye Dear Friend

Dear Howard's One and Only Reader,

It is with a broken heart that we let you know that our much loved, Howard, has crossed the Rainbow Bridge to be with his best buddy, Sare Bear.  We said our good-byes on Thursday, May 17, 2012, at 5:30 p.m. in the comfort of his own yard, as Brad lovingly held him in his arms while the vet gave him medicine to end his suffering.  He licked Brad's hands until he fell asleep as if to so say, "I trust you", and to thank him for all the wonderful years, and this one final act of love.  Howard is no longer in pain, and is running and jumping and having all the fun that he had in his younger years.

Howard gave us so much love and enjoyment, as only a dog can do.  When I asked Brad what he thought about getting a dog, he told me, "use your best judgement."  So I did.  I marched down to the Western Arizona Humane Society, in Lake Havasu City, AZ, and picked out a little black puppy from the sweetest litter of pups I had ever seen.  That was fourteen years ago.  Howard, turned out to be not so sweet, but more of a kick ass and ask questions later kind of dog.  He kept me company in Arizona when Brad had to leave to Santa Barbara for work 2 - 3 days at a time.  He drove me crazy and made me feel safe.  He was an excellent watch dog, and I don't know when I will ever sleep such worry free sleep without him.

For Brad and Howard, it was love at first site.  Howard instantly became Brad's dog.  They were best buddies, and I swear Howard would get ticked at me when Brad had to be gone for a couple of days or more.  He went into depression mode for the first day, and constantly watched and waited for him to return.  We'd go out on the warm Arizona nights that Brad was due home, and sit together and wait for him to drive up in his white Ford Ranger XLT which ironically turned out to be the same exact truck that the vet drove and took Howard away for his finally bye bye ride.  Howard LOVED that truck.  I truly believe, with God, there are no coincidences.

Fourteen years goes by way too fast.  I was only 25 years old then.  So much has happened in those 14 years, and Howard was a part of each and every one of them.  He was such a good dog to us, and loved us and protected us with such devotion.  He would have laid down his life for us.  No effer was going to stand in his way!  His hips gave out long before his spirit ever did, and they caused him a lot of pain and suffering that was just too much to bear.

Howard, you were Brad's best buddy, and my favorite watch dog.  Life will not be the same without you and we cannot believe you are gone.  Our hearts are breaking and there is a hole in the world right now, because you are gone.  We truly thought you'd live forever, how can it possibly be that you are no longer here?  It just doesn't seem real, Howdog, that you are gone.  I keep waiting to hear your breathing, or your nails scratch against the wall when you roll over at night.  When I get up in the middle of the night, I always look for you, or expect to hear you drinking water at 3 a.m. listening to make sure it wasn't from the toilet.  You will always be in our hearts until we see you again, and will stand as a fine example of my "best judgement."   

To Howard's Favorite and Only Reader, and you'd be his favorite even if you weren't the only reader, thanks for sharing in the laughs that Howard never failed to bring into our lives.

Sincerely,
Brad and Julie