by Melissa Parks
Duke,
I don't really know where to begin. We bought you as a pup, just 8 weeks old. We weren't even sure if we could afford you. But, we were newly married and were looking for a third companion to join our happy little family. Daddy saw the ad for Weimaraners on the internet and decided we had to have one whether we could afford it or not. Luckily, it was in town and Amanda ,the breeder, let us make payments for you. You were a beautiful puppy. You had sky blue eyes and the cutest wrinkly skin. Your ears were to big and your feet made you clumsy. When Daddy saw you, he knew you were the one. The breeder had you catagorized by color. You were Greenie. You wore a piece of green yarn as a collar. Your brothers and sisters wore, pink, purple, blue, yellow, white, and black. You came from a big litter. When Daddy picked you up, you snuggled up to him and he took off with you like a football under his arm. Of course leaving me to pay for you...:) We brought you home and you peed on me the first night in our bed. I cleaned us up and we slept on the couch while daddy was at work that night. The next morning, we played and played and you ate so much you almost popped. Daddy called you to him and you slept with him most of the day. When dinner time came, you had your fill of porkchops and stuffing and laid down to sleep between the couch cushions. After a few days had passed, we begin to worry about you. You hadn't pooped since we brought you home! You were due to see the vet anyway, so we took you outside. We lived right by the vet. Once outside, you pooped 5 times before going to the vet. A couple weeks went by and I had came home from school and was getting ready for work. I carried you outside to take you potty. You tried to jump to the ground, and in the process making me reach for you and I stepped off of the porch and sprained my ankle. Thanks to you baby, I was on crutches for 3 months. You slept right beside me on the couch because I couldn't make it to the bedroom and back at night. We watched t.v. together and you would crawl up and sleep on the pillow with me. Then, we decided that you needed a friend. So, we went to the pound and got you a cat. His name was Casper. He loved dogs!! We were so amazed. You guys had the best times. We would find clumps of black cat hair around the house where you had been playing a little too rough. You would sneak around the house trying to eat the kitty's poop from the litter box and you would pee in the air conditioner vent in front of the bathroom so we wouldn't notice. Thank God, it wasn't working anyway!! You were growing faster than we could keep up!! Then, we moved from the small house on the corner into a big house with a big backyard. You loved it. You romped and ran all day. We took you swimming at the beginning of summer. You tried to climb on daddy's back. You came out scared and shivering. But you loved baths. You would climb into the bathtub an lie there waiting for one of us to turn the water on for you. Then, Tea came. She was your best "doggy" friend. Even though she was 4 and you were only 6 months, you guys got along great. She taught you manners. And you taught her how to open doors and refridgerators. You were so mischevious. You would beg for ice cubes and then do tricks for them. We took you swimming again when you were 7 months old. You loved it! You would swim around and then go lie down in the water in the shade. We took you camping with us numerous times. You would keep us warm on those cool summer nights. We sure miss you boy. I just don't understand how you got out of the fence. You had never jumped it or tried to jump it before. Did you smell a bitch in heat? Pepper whines for you at night. Your baby sister. You were so gentle with her even though she was so mean. She doesn't seem to understand. Tea is still here and she looks for you outside in the backyard. I guess she saw you get hit on the interstate. It scared her. She won't hardly eat. Send her some positive vibes boy...let her know it's okay. I guess it's time to close. You are dearly missed. You are getting a baby Weimaraner brother soon. He will never replace you, but it will be nice to have another little ball of ears and legs running around again. We love you Dukie puppy. Daddy misses you so much. He wants to talk and cry, but he can't. He is hiding his pain, yet he stares at the door hoping you'll scratch to be let in. Hoping to see you at night when he goes to bed. He hopes you'll jump up and plop down in your usual way. He wants to see you run through the house like a mad dog. And do tricks for ice cubes. He wants you to lick his face and not miss an inch with that monsterous tongue of yours. He wants you back, Duke. And I wish with all my heart, I could give that to him. I miss you baby. As does Daddy, Pepper, Tea, Clay, Aunt Lora, Grandma, and so many more. You were special little boy. You were something else. Something out of this world. But, until we meet at the bridge, you will be in our hearts, our thoughts, and our souls. We love you Dukie Puppy.
Love,
Momma, Daddy, Tea, Pepper, Clay, Aunt Lora, and everyone else who had the privelage of spending time with you.