Best Dog in the World

"The dog is the most faithful of animal and would be much esteemed were it not so common. Our Lord God has made His greatest gifts the commonest."
Martin Luther King

Today is not just a holiday for our family ... today is our beloved Andre's 10th birthday! Although he rarely receives mention in my blog, Andre is a very important member of our family.

In the Spring of 1999, my first foster son, Clark and I ventured up to Chicago to visit my mother's family. We stayed with Aunt Debbie and her family. Her precious lab, Blackie, had just given birth to a litter of pups. Andre was fittingly named as he was the largest guy in the litter. I had no plans to go home with a puppy that weekend, but Andre and Clark had it all figured out after their first meeting.

Clark had spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. He was non-verbal and was completely dependent on others for all of his needs. He had brittle bones, so care had to be taken that he was handled properly. I was overly protective of Clark, much to his disgust! But lying on the living room floor at Aunt Debbie's, he and Andre found something very special in each other. This rambunctious little puppy calmed down immediately upon entering Clark's "space." It was as if he knew that Clark needed him to crawl to just the right spot where his hand could fall on Andre's back. Clark's moves were jerky because of the CP, but Andre just stayed there and never looked away from his boy.

Well, we took Andre home that weekend. He and Clark were inseperable. Andre learned to do small tasks for Clark. Andre's presence made Clark's painful therapy sessions so much easier to bear. When they were together they were simply "a boy and his dog." You didn't see the wheelchair. You forgot about Clark's obvious challenges ... and so did Clark. All that mattered to my two boys was that they were together.

Then one day, Clark left. Andre was devastated. He became depressed and I was sure he had lost all desire to live. He no longer wanted to be inside and chose to become an "outside dog." I worried about him in the heat and cold, but that was where he was happy.

Over the years, and 43 children later, Andre still shines! He lives for "his kids." He's never snarled, nipped or groaned at the many little stinkers who have poked, pulled, hit and hugged him. He's taught children who trusted not a soul, that he could be trusted. He barks just to let those approaching our home know that he is there, guarding over his children. He's laid watch at Brandon's bedside in those first few fragile months, keeping me company as I monitored machines and tubes. He's kissed away tears, and hugged away hurts and loved every one of us unconditionally.

Andre is getting on in years. The kids are starting to notice that it takes a little more effort for him to get his 90 pound body from one end of the yard to the other. We've talked about a dog's life ... and they know ... they know Andre won't be with us forever. Andre has reclaimed his "indoor dog" status ... and my favorite Lazy Boy chair too!

I can never imagine that there could be another dog as perfect as Andre is to us. So today we say, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANDRE! You are everything to us!"

Until Tomorrow,
Kathy