Goodbye old friend.

I am sad to share that we bid farewell to a lovely family pet this week. Toby has been with us since before Leif was born, a gift from me to my mother when I was pregnant with Leif. My mom and Al's first dog, also a Toby, had passed away the year before, and I had debated offering to fill that hole in their hearts with a new furry friend. My mom was on the road with me during part of my former job, visiting clients up island. I called ahead to the Campbell River SPCA, asking if they had any medium-sized dogs. They said they had one, named Toby. That had to mean something, right? We went in and saw a sweet, frightened little guy, so hopeful to get out of there, but not even willing to bark to get our attention. He had been turned in to the SPCA because he kept chasing the ducks in his owner's pond.

He's a retreiver people. Think about it.

And he was a wonderful friend to everyone. He chased bubbles, and deftly stole the butter off the counter, without touching the plate. If you sat with one leg crossed over your knee, he'd stand with his stomach on top of your dangling foot so you could 'rub' it by moving your foot back and forth. He loved barking at birds. And squirrels, and rabbits. When Leif came along Toby was thrilled to have someone his size to pal around with.

He was a happy soul in all his days with Mom and Al, riding in Mom's car with his head out the window, watching the ducks and squirrels from the safe restraint of his leash, tromping through the forest with Al at the cabin. He had found his perfect match in those two, and brought them as much joy as he could.

He will be missed by all of us. He was a good dog.

xoxo

C