First day of Spring

Howdy there Young Man!

It is still chilly out but the snow is gone and the sun is shining!  How are you doing?  We're pretty good here but the boys aren't happy with me.  Yesterday was Vet day.  They never mind going because Gene gives them plenty of treats for being so good but this time was Heartworm tests, shots and that dreaded nail trim.

We had just enough snow all winter that they didn't wear them down.  They have a head start on summer now and always manage to keep them worn down pretty well running around in the summer.  Weekends at the camper help too.  Since the snow is gone all the burdocks are uncovered so Pele' comes in stuck to himself most of the time.  I have had to begin giving him his summer cut a little early because there are so many stuck to him that I have to cut them out of his fur....or pull them and you know how that feels.  Shorter hair just works better whenit comes to weeds  I hope you have kept your shorter fur so you aren't going through the weed thing.

The geese are here now.  That will probably mean the coyotes will stay away now...if they know what is good for them.  Those ganders can be nasty.  I am wondering if Pele' will remember that this year or if he'll have to get tweeked or chased by on to remind him.  Buck just gives them a wide berth when going around the pond.  I still remind Buck that if a black dog with a white star comes to visit that he is suppose to at least be nice.  Buck is a pretty good guard...and he usually checks things out before deciding whether to growl or not. 

Pele' is just a lovable idiot but he'll be the loudest one barking at you.  He thinks that just because he grew up with Sid (the giant Pit) that he is tough.  Well I guess he is the fierce hunter....chases down rabbits pretty regular but he is still the little guy with a big mouth.

Your house kennel is still here and the summer dog house (unheated).  I'll be unplugging the heated dog house now that days are warmer and dogs are inside at night.  You need to come home and meet your new packmates!  you will fit right in between them for size.  I suspect you'll run the race track with Buck and then go hunting with Pele'.  You'll fit right in!  The race track has changed now that the pond is not frozen anymore.  It will go back to being a circle track around the pond.

Your mother's owner has been helping us redo the kitchen so we have been able to share some memories of you and he told me how sneaky you were as a baby!  He had to keep you fenced in living in town.  Out here you found the joy of running free.  I often wonder if that is why you are still gone....even though we were outside with you.  You had never left before, but you had never played in snow before either!

As the grass gets green and the flowers begin to bloom I will be thinking of you and your curiosity about the flowers, the garden, the frogs and bugs.  As a pup you were very much like Pele' is all of the time....but I also remember my little shadow that followed me wherever I went and wanted to help with everything I did.  I miss you Starskey.......Please come home!

Spring is coming

Hey there Starskey......been thinking about you an awful lot lately.  Not exactly sure why so much now because I think of you daily and always wish you well.  It has just been different lately for some reason.  I hope you are well and fed and warm and I still hope that someone somewhere will look for your family and bring you home to us!

There was a snowfall a few days ago that reminded me of the day you disappeared.  It was fresh white fluff like what you went romping through that day.  It was your first snow and you really thought it was neat.  Dad got the tractor out to plow the drifts in the drive.  You helped him get it out then you came bouncing over where I was scooping the sidewalk.  You were having such a good time!

I scooped the sidewalk, a wide path to the doghouse and then went to clear in front of the garage door so your Dad could get closer with the loader.  He pulled up and asked me where you were.  I looked at him and said I thought you might have gone to finish helping him when you stopped helping me.  That was when we realized you were gone and we didn't really even know for how long.

We immediately got in the vans and drove around looking for you.  We didn't see you and neither had anyone else.  They had all been pretty busy clearing snow themselves!  That was when I called the Sheriff and the radio station.  I made posters and put them up all over town and made smaller ones that I delivered to all the neighbors within 2 miles.  The grandkids found places on the internet to post lost pet information and I called Home Again.

I got lost for a while too little buddy.....lost in depression and desperation.  I chased down sightings of you from Thompson to Garner and all over Forest City for months.  The biggest problem was that folks would call in the evening to tell me they saw you on their way to work that morning.....do you know how hopeful but futile those follow-ups were?  You must have wondered where I was and why I didn't come get you.  Starskey - I was trying!!!  I still am trying!

It is melting today, just like it did after you vanished.  We walked the ditches then and gravel roads until we were satisfied that you had not been hit by a car or something.  Not finding you dead kept us hoping.  I have often wondered if you met a sad end like Ike did,,,,,off the road and because of an illegal trapper.  That thought just makes me mad. 

There seems to be a lot of coyotes around this year.  Bucky keeps barking at them to stay away and we put Pele' on the runner cable when he goes out at night.  I had a talk with Buck about you and told him that if he sees you - you aren't a coyote, even if you might look kinds scrufty and that he may have showed them where to find the open water in winyer but that you might really want to come home....and that he should go meet you and let you know it's okay.  Don't think he heard me well though.  He has claimed this home for himself now and you'd probably need some help to get to know him.  He has 3 lab cousins at Rene's house that he enjoys being with....but you would be new to him.

If you stop by the pond, for a drink of water, stick around for daylight when we can see you and can help you out.  Your doghouse is here and the heater is on so feel free to warm up for the night.  We do so miss you and would so much love to have you come home to us again.  You taught us a lot and we are grateful for that.  I keep your pictures on the computer in case anyone askes me about you.  The porch swing is waiting for spring to come and then it will be here to swing in together again.  That is still your special thing because Buck doesn't like to swing and Pele' is always too busy.

Be safe my Starskey and know that you are still loved and wanted!  Thanks for letting me share the memories.  I'll try to think of happier ones the next time we talk.  God Bless you!