It rained a little here yesterday, on the ranch land and in our hearts. Our beloved Sam was laid to rest after struggling for some time with the effects of hip dysplasia. It doesn't matter how well one plans for such a day, it still makes tears well up in the eyes. We are comforted to know that he is no longer in pain.
Sam came to us as an adult needing to be re-homed. He didn't know he had any hip problems and took his guardianship of the Dream River Ranch seriously, to the point of guarding his air space from those pesky egg-stealing crows and ravens. One summer evening just, before nightfall, we found him barking at the tops of our great cottonwoods, which shade our chicken coop from summer sun. With each woof, the whole front end of his 130#-plus body was lifted off the ground. He kept it up until a large owl gave up a predatory perch and flew away; and there went Sam chasing after it as if the owl was on the ground. Behold, no treetop was available that night as a landing perch for that owl.
Each evening's ritual, as he made ready for the night's duty of keeping predators away from our home and livestock, he would sniff the air coming in off the desert. Holding his head high and gazing far away, he could smell the coyotes even before they started their evening choral. He would strut about in a very proud way and make under-the-breath growling noises never letting anything deter his focus. His body served him well then, and on his last day he continued to contribute in the spirit of the Great Pyrenees guardian dog; he woofed warnings of his presence from the deck of the ranch house.
Sam, I am
Coyote Cruncher
Woof, woof, woof.
Rest in peace Sam. Your memory will linger.
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