Herman

Herman would have been eleven in July. Lesley adopted him when he was six from a shelter in Newcastle, WY. His first year was rough. Lots of sicknesses, trips to the vet, trips to the vet hospital in Colorado... he had thyroid problems, high blood pressure, heart problems.

Les nursed him back to health. She slept on the floor with him for the first week to make sure he was still breathing. With time she cleared up his walking dermatitis, got his heart condition, BP, and thyroid under control. She got him to a healthy weight.

 Then Herman started taking care of Lesley. She lost her sister and he was there. He told her it was going to be okay. When I proposed to her, Herman was there to give her his blessing. When she blew out her knee he was there licking it before we even knew what had happened. He protected her and guarded her and loved her unconditionally.

With time he came to protect, guard, and love me. Corgis are fickle and I felt honored in a way to know that he chose me as one of his pack.

On April 19th we played in the yard and barked at the neighbor's dog. I did a little dance that evening for Les (being a goof). Herman looked at me like I was loony. He slept in his bed and let me give him kisses and pets that night.

On April 20th Les let him lick her yogurt container for breakfast -- a routine they had both come to cherish. Funny how the little things like that become so big.

That afternoon we came home from work. Herman was lying peacefully in the entry-way rug. He didn't bark to let the world know we were home. We all barked to let the world know he was gone.

God bless you, Herman. We miss you dearly.

Thank you Tracy Cary for creating this tribute image.