Blue and his brother (Red) came to live with me on December 31, 1999. I don't know exactly how old they were, probably 18 months to 2 years. They had been abandoned by their previous family for reasons I never did ascertain and they didn't immediately warm up to living with me. Blue especially was nervous and shy and withdrawn. He would isolate himself from me and Red and when he had to move from place to place, he would tippy-toe from where he was to where he wanted to be. He would stick to my leg when we went for a walk even though his brother would run happily ahead (and behind and up the mountain and down the mountain). He seemed to be frightened of other dogs be they big or small. He didn't warm to other people either.

In spite of his not too winning personality, I quickly grew to love Blue with all my heart and by the spring he was a different boy. He was cheeky and fun and thought of himself as king of the castle. He loved his walks and didn't spend much time hanging around me, but rather would chase squirrells, rabbits, marmots or whatever; but always came running (bounding and leaping) back to his mom. He got along well with most other dogs and even though he teased Red unmercifully the 2 of them were inseperable.

Blue was an excellent traveller, we did a lot of driving for work and he loved to sit in the front seat so he could lay his head on my lap or poke me with his paw--"attention please!"

He loved being near water and riding in the boat but loathed swimming. When he was near a body of water he would tip toe into it until it nearly reached his chest, squat down a little, look at me then run out shaking himself off and running around me grinning happily.

He loved playing ball especially when I was mowing the lawn. It never failed---I would fire up the mower and a minute later Blue would run up to me with a tennis ball in his mouth and would sit in the path of the lawn mower until I threw the ball for him. and threw it and threw it until the lawn was mowed. If I was just sitting around he didn't care for ball that much.

Blue loved sleeping at the head of the bed. When it was bedtime, I would call it out and the 2 of them would run wildly into the bedroom and leap onto the bed and have a growling match for the head spot. Blue was always the winner.

He was a cuddler par excellence. In the bed; on the couch; on the lawn; he could fit himself into the funniest positions so he could be held and loved.

He enjoyed a good belly rub and being stroked and patted but hated being brushed or combed. He was the fussiest eater ever, but enjoyed having his teeth brushed every night!

Blue got anal gland cancer in February of 2007. He had surgery followed by 15 weeks of chemotherapy and did great until February of 09 when the cancer came back. He had surgery again in his hometown followed by a different chemo but our prognosis by July was grim. At this time we were lucky enough to be referred to WSU in Pullman.

Within a week Blue had had every test imaginable under the direction of Dr Christie Anderson and it was decided he needed more surgery. His blood counts weren't good enough from his most recent chemo so we came home to heal and prepare and in August he had his last surgery. Several more weeks of healing, and Blue was booked for a month of radiation. We stayed at "Lucas House" during the month of September; a month fraught with complications: infection, nausea, diarrhea, pneumonia, anorexia, no energy. Our thanks to Dr Jeff Bryan and Carmel and Jeff can never be fully expressed for their support during that time.

But we did get over it, Blue recovered and by Christmas 2009 he was his usual gracious fun-loving independent self. He had his 3 month post radiation check at WSU in January of 2010 and passed with flying colors. He did continue to suffer from diarrhea off and on but on the whole did great.

At his next check, in May 2010 we received the devastating news that his cancer was back. Dr Bryan gave us a new oral chemo agent to try but Blue could not tolerate it.

Over the next few months high serum calcium was a problem for Blue and he had to go into the hospital several times for IV medication to get it down. He never resented his treatments, never got angry at all the pokes and prods, he just remained a little gentleman.

His energy declined, his appetite (never good at the best of times) also declined and he lost weight. But he never lost himself. He was gracious and kind and patient with me as I tried to keep him comfortable. Every time he had to have a little bath, his eyes sparkled after that first little accusatory glance---"What??? this again??" In fact, unless he was sleeping, his eyes never left me at all. Fortunately I was able to take time off work so we were together constantly. I held him and loved him and sang to him. And I was there when he left at 5:30PM on Sunday November 28, 2010

I cry for him every day and I will miss him forever. His brother looks for him every day and doesn't understand when I tell him it's just him and me now.

Kathryn and Red