My brother, Ryan, got a dog when he (Ryan) was 15. He named the dog Champ. Last night, the hard decision was made to let Champ fly free. He would have been 16 (in people years) in a few weeks. He was so thin and just all around looked ready to go. So, this morning, the vet went over to my parents house, and let Champ quietly go to sleep. He was cherished by so many and will be sorely missed.
I remember when Ryan first got Champ. Ryan was 15, I was 12. My dad and Ryan had "fought" for a long time about Ryan getting a dog, but my dad finally gave in. So, my mom took Ryan to Vernal to pick up his new dog, while my dad and I went for a ride in the airplane.
I remember flying over Dutch John with my dad, over the highway that goes from Tridell to Vernal and spotting the car driving along. We flew up around the mountains, down to Roosevelt for some gas, and then back up to Tridell. When we got home, Mom & Ryan were home with a little fluffball. He was seriously tiny. Champ seemed like such a big name for such a small puppy, but he quickly grew into it.
When he was little, he loved to fetch. He'd chase after an old tennis ball that we'd throw and drop it back at our feet, completely slobbery, and expect us to throw it again. He'd just dance in anticipation. He'd go out in the field behind my parents house and chase the prairie dogs. He'd always go down to the canal with us when we went swimming. And he loved to go up in the mountains with us when we would go Christmas tree hunting.
After Ryan left on his mission, he became the family dog. (Mom, can I claim him as mine at that point?) You could tell he missed Ryan, but he became my "Champ," my best friend. He'd always go up to the cemetery with me when I would mow the lawn. He let me cry on him when Ryan left on his mission.
And I can't tell you the number of times that Champ would lay his head on my lap and let me cry for whatever reason (death in the family, fights with parents, problems at school, stress, boys . . .). He'd just sit there with me and let me hug him and hold him while I cried. Occasionally, he'd lick my hand, or lick my tears away for me, and then he'd continue to just sit there with me.
My boys have come to know and love Champy, and will miss him very much. He would always get so excited when anybody would drive up to the house, and he'd jump on them as soon as they got out of the car. His whole body would wag - not just his tail - when someone came outside to pet him! As you can see in the pictures below, he loved the kids, too. The ones of Gavin sitting with Champ are some of my absolute favorites. That's just how Champ was. Calm. Dependable. Steady. Loving. Patient. He was always patient - with the grandkids, the cats.
He was a true gentleman. When we'd feed the animals (cats and dogs) he'd ALWAYS stand back and let the other animals eat first. He'd stand there and let them finish, and then he'd eat whatever was left. I've never seen him push his way in to eat. He'd cuddle with the cats (seriously, how many dogs and cats cuddle together?), and he'd let them sit on his head, and groom him, and they'd sleep in his doghouse and he'd patiently wander off somewhere else to lay down.
He was my friend, and he will be sorely missed. It's gonna be weird to drive up to my parents house and not have Champ run out to meet us. Sleep well, sweet dog. Thanks to my sister-in-law, Jana, for these pictures of Champ.
This first one is from about 9 years ago up White Rocks Canyon.
This one was taken yesterday.
We love you Champy and will miss you dearly! Hope you are running like a puppy again!
I remember when Ryan first got Champ. Ryan was 15, I was 12. My dad and Ryan had "fought" for a long time about Ryan getting a dog, but my dad finally gave in. So, my mom took Ryan to Vernal to pick up his new dog, while my dad and I went for a ride in the airplane.
I remember flying over Dutch John with my dad, over the highway that goes from Tridell to Vernal and spotting the car driving along. We flew up around the mountains, down to Roosevelt for some gas, and then back up to Tridell. When we got home, Mom & Ryan were home with a little fluffball. He was seriously tiny. Champ seemed like such a big name for such a small puppy, but he quickly grew into it.
When he was little, he loved to fetch. He'd chase after an old tennis ball that we'd throw and drop it back at our feet, completely slobbery, and expect us to throw it again. He'd just dance in anticipation. He'd go out in the field behind my parents house and chase the prairie dogs. He'd always go down to the canal with us when we went swimming. And he loved to go up in the mountains with us when we would go Christmas tree hunting.
After Ryan left on his mission, he became the family dog. (Mom, can I claim him as mine at that point?) You could tell he missed Ryan, but he became my "Champ," my best friend. He'd always go up to the cemetery with me when I would mow the lawn. He let me cry on him when Ryan left on his mission.
And I can't tell you the number of times that Champ would lay his head on my lap and let me cry for whatever reason (death in the family, fights with parents, problems at school, stress, boys . . .). He'd just sit there with me and let me hug him and hold him while I cried. Occasionally, he'd lick my hand, or lick my tears away for me, and then he'd continue to just sit there with me.
My boys have come to know and love Champy, and will miss him very much. He would always get so excited when anybody would drive up to the house, and he'd jump on them as soon as they got out of the car. His whole body would wag - not just his tail - when someone came outside to pet him! As you can see in the pictures below, he loved the kids, too. The ones of Gavin sitting with Champ are some of my absolute favorites. That's just how Champ was. Calm. Dependable. Steady. Loving. Patient. He was always patient - with the grandkids, the cats.
He was a true gentleman. When we'd feed the animals (cats and dogs) he'd ALWAYS stand back and let the other animals eat first. He'd stand there and let them finish, and then he'd eat whatever was left. I've never seen him push his way in to eat. He'd cuddle with the cats (seriously, how many dogs and cats cuddle together?), and he'd let them sit on his head, and groom him, and they'd sleep in his doghouse and he'd patiently wander off somewhere else to lay down.
He was my friend, and he will be sorely missed. It's gonna be weird to drive up to my parents house and not have Champ run out to meet us. Sleep well, sweet dog. Thanks to my sister-in-law, Jana, for these pictures of Champ.
This first one is from about 9 years ago up White Rocks Canyon.
This one was taken yesterday.
We love you Champy and will miss you dearly! Hope you are running like a puppy again!
1 comment:
Awwww. This is soooo sweet, Renee. Thanks for sharing. I completely know what you mean (our little puppy died a little over a year ago...she was almost 18!), especially now that I have my own puppy. Allee has let me cry with her plenty these last couple months, but she's been an even better distraction/entertainer. :) Loves!
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