by Andrew New
It all started at the humane society after my dog Buster departed for the great beyond. We chose a little German Shepard mix puppy for a family pet. I named him Chief after the dog in "the fox and the hound". He adjusted to the new house fairly quickly and was very loyal. We didn't have to keep him fenced in because he would always lay on the front porch waiting for me to come home from school. We would wrestle and play fetch, and he never bit me on purpose. He was very friendly and anyone could pet him, no problem. He shared the yard with many cats that were just dumped on out lawn. One day, we got some new neighbors who had 3 dogs and chief started going over there when i wasn't home. It came to pass when he would stay over there all the time. The neighbors didn't mind and fed him and sort of started calling him their own. A few weeks later, i didn't see him over there. Months past without a sight of him and my parents and I thought that he had run away. About 3 years passed when I finally went over and asked what had happened to him. Our neighbor told me the saddest thing i ever heard. He had been kicked by one of their horses and it broke his back. Chief laid on their lawn all night in shock, he could hardly breathe. When morning came, he had passed on to the Great Beyond. 2 years has passed and i am still in much internal pain. I wish i could just bring him back. He was my best friend in the entire world. As I type this, I sit weeping in sorrow and will continue until i see him again in heaven.
For Chief. The best darn dog and companion that has ever walked the face of this earth. I'll see you in the morning of that great day!