Wolf

     As a girl who grew up in the suburbs, moving to the country with my husband took a bit of getting used to. Coyotes howling, hunters shooting and rodents running around were not aspects of life that I was familiar with. I made our first years together miserable at times by worrying about every strange car in the driveway; I did not feel safe, especially when my husband was not around. Over the years then we had a number of larger dogs that we had good lives with--- dogs are a natural country door bell. They let you know that someone is around and they let the visitor know that they know!
     Our biggest and most ferocious looking dog was Wolf. As a Belgian Shepherd he was completely black except for several white hairs on his chest and lately, a grey chin. His bark was a low, loud rumble that let coyotes know that they were not welcome on our property. He was also the sweetest and most likable of dogs; to know him was to love him. Wolf was afraid of loud noises and hated lawn mowers, weed whippers and leaf blowers. He did love the sound of a police motorcycle though and once led me up our street to a "Cops for Cancer" event at a local preschool purely based on what his ears had heard.
     For many years my husband took him to work in his truck. It was wonderful to see Wolf's large black head sticking out of the window, taking in the sounds and scents. He loved to go for car rides with anyone though and would sometimes be brought home by some kind person who had just stopped their car on our street and found Wolf ready to jump in with them.
     Wolf's only fault was being a runaway. He had a habit of going places, usually on his own. However he once led our other dog across a very busy street to a spot blocks and blocks away. He also crossed the border a couple of times and made folks believe that he was a sniffer dog, albeit without a handler. He liked to be on the move.
     Towards the end though, Wolf stopped moving, drinking or eating. Today he came to the close of his many years on earth, about 14 of them we think. As he was in life, he was patient, loyal and loving. He will never be forgotten and will be sorely missed by all of us....