Reed
A donation was made in memory of Reed by Judith Heywood on Jul 03, 2013.
Remembering Reed
Reed made his transition on July 1, 2014 at about 12:50 pm. He was in the arms of those who loved him best, me and Steve. And Sadie and Patches were with us too. He died peacefully surrounded by love. I am so grateful for having such an amazingly wonderful friend in my life these last ten+ years. The fun and unconditional love Reed brought to me and all who knew him was enormous. He never met a stranger. Everywhere that we went he was the center of attention and a source of delight. The comments ranged from “He should be in movies with that personality” to “He’s so unusual that he is beautiful.” One of my greatest compliments was when someone told me that I looked like him.
Reed was a big gangly Irish Wolfhound mix breed that we rescued from Petsmart adoption on the far west side of Phoenix at about 3 to 6 months in age. I had tried to adopt him from the foster home but it didn’t work out. So I had to be the first in line that Saturday morning because I knew that this dog was mine and I was his. The store had not opened but there was a small crack in the door to let in the employees. Boldly I went in before the store opened to be the first in line to adopt Reed. And I was. And he came home with us that day.
From the very beginning Reed was an exceptional dog. I was so surprised that anyone could let go of such a wonderful dog. My sense was that he had gotten lost and had not found his way back. He did not appear to have experienced trauma or abuse in any way. Reed was eager to please and so willing to learn. I can’t recall him every having an accident in the house once he figured out the outside access. Our yard at the time had a 5 foot wall. Reed would sit on a chair in the back patio and look out to the horizon over the wall. Reed lived with his sister Sadie, a strong alpha who was also rescued. She is an extremely intelligent Australian Shepherd. Together they played rough house and worked out their puppy energy on each other. He loved to run circles around Sadie and then they would rush at each other and crash together and wrestle. Although Sadie was clearly the dominant dog, they were a good match and they got along well together most of the time.
Reed had so many exceptional traits.
• His affectionate and extreme good nature with almost everyone that he met. He was tolerant and good with younger children, allowing them to explore his face and body with inquisitive hands. Very occasionally he met someone he did not appreciate and that was definitely worth paying attention to.
• He loved being outdoors and going on hikes. Almost daily we walked to Oak Creek and he loved to get in the water to cool down. Even when it was cold he went into the Creek. He didn’t really swim; he would walk into the water until he had to be on his tippy toes and then sort of bounced along the bottom. And of course he would look for fresh grass to graze on by the Creek. When we hiked, he would run ahead and wait till he saw me then he would go ahead again. He had so much energy that it was essential that he could run off leash almost every day.
• One of my friends noted that Reed was either on or off. He didn’t have much neutral. Outside he would be highly energized and loved to move. In the house he was very well mannered and laid around like a lazy boy.
• The grace, strength and beauty in his running. Reed could run like the wind. At full speed he was glorious to watch, galloping like a thoroughbred horse. In his prime he could never be outpaced by another dog. And we could never wear him out. I think he could have run forever.
• His love of the vistas and the night sky. Reed loved to find a spot where he could see the view. When we moved to Cave Creek and a big lot with 360 views, he would spend hours outside looking out onto the horizon. And at night, he would gaze up watching the night sky. After his transition, he told me that he wasn’t just looking at the night skies, but he was communing with the stars where he originated.
• His delight in going anywhere, even if he had to stay in the car for hours. He would always be much happier to go with me than stay at home. He had a cozy, comfortable spot in my Rav4 that I outfitted with blankets. That was his special travel spot. So as long as it wasn’t too hot or cold, Reed accompanied me everywhere I went.
• The sounds he could make were so fun. He talked to us sometimes in his “wookie” language. Sort of like sighs and grunts mixed together in a funny way. He wasn’t much of a barker or watch dog, so when he did bark I took notice. When the dogs across the street would sound their bark alarm, Reed would pick up on the signal and bark along with them.
• He loved to lay on his back with his legs sticking straight up in the air. He could lay like that for hours, sleeping, especially when one side was braced against the wall. So most of the lower walls in the house had some dark marks where he preferred to lay down. He also loved to get up on the bed. For years he wasn’t allowed on the bed, but in the last 3 years when things had changed in my life, I let him get up on the bed. He just loved that. He was like a king on his thrown. When it was cold, he would cuddle with me. When it was hot, he would sleep on the floor and then in the morning he would jump up on the bed for morning snuggles. I’m not sure which of us loved that more.
• Reed loved to sleep in. There was no 6 am wakeup call from him. He could easily lay around until 10 or 11 am, sometimes as late as noon.
Reed’s consciousness was much larger than most dogs. He truly was a radiant star being in a dog’s body. We were able to communicate on so many levels. Since his transition, he has reassured me repeatedly that he is with me. He explained that because he was now the energy of love and pure consciousness, for us to communicate, I need to be in the space of love. Sorrow and depression will cause me to not feel the connection. This has provided me the awareness and incentive to stay in my heart to feel his love with me.
As his body faded, Reed’s spirit became stronger and he radiated such love. He shared his wisdom for a happy life. “Love unconditionally everything that comes into your life. Be the first to forgive and forgive quickly. Live now.“ Reed lived with that grace always. May we all be blessed to love so and to receive such love in our lives.
Reed’s love of adventure, sweet temperament, deep awareness and sheer delight in being alive will never leave me. Reed, thank you for sharing my life. We had such a wonderful life together. You will always be in my heart. I LOVE YOU BIG GUY!
Gail C.
Reed made his transition on July 1, 2014 at about 12:50 pm. He was in the arms of those who loved him best, me and Steve. And Sadie and Patches were with us too. He died peacefully surrounded by love. I am so grateful for having such an amazingly wonderful friend in my life these last ten+ years. The fun and unconditional love Reed brought to me and all who knew him was enormous. He never met a stranger. Everywhere that we went he was the center of attention and a source of delight. The comments ranged from “He should be in movies with that personality” to “He’s so unusual that he is beautiful.” One of my greatest compliments was when someone told me that I looked like him.
Reed was a big gangly Irish Wolfhound mix breed that we rescued from Petsmart adoption on the far west side of Phoenix at about 3 to 6 months in age. I had tried to adopt him from the foster home but it didn’t work out. So I had to be the first in line that Saturday morning because I knew that this dog was mine and I was his. The store had not opened but there was a small crack in the door to let in the employees. Boldly I went in before the store opened to be the first in line to adopt Reed. And I was. And he came home with us that day.
From the very beginning Reed was an exceptional dog. I was so surprised that anyone could let go of such a wonderful dog. My sense was that he had gotten lost and had not found his way back. He did not appear to have experienced trauma or abuse in any way. Reed was eager to please and so willing to learn. I can’t recall him every having an accident in the house once he figured out the outside access. Our yard at the time had a 5 foot wall. Reed would sit on a chair in the back patio and look out to the horizon over the wall. Reed lived with his sister Sadie, a strong alpha who was also rescued. She is an extremely intelligent Australian Shepherd. Together they played rough house and worked out their puppy energy on each other. He loved to run circles around Sadie and then they would rush at each other and crash together and wrestle. Although Sadie was clearly the dominant dog, they were a good match and they got along well together most of the time.
Reed had so many exceptional traits.
• His affectionate and extreme good nature with almost everyone that he met. He was tolerant and good with younger children, allowing them to explore his face and body with inquisitive hands. Very occasionally he met someone he did not appreciate and that was definitely worth paying attention to.
• He loved being outdoors and going on hikes. Almost daily we walked to Oak Creek and he loved to get in the water to cool down. Even when it was cold he went into the Creek. He didn’t really swim; he would walk into the water until he had to be on his tippy toes and then sort of bounced along the bottom. And of course he would look for fresh grass to graze on by the Creek. When we hiked, he would run ahead and wait till he saw me then he would go ahead again. He had so much energy that it was essential that he could run off leash almost every day.
• One of my friends noted that Reed was either on or off. He didn’t have much neutral. Outside he would be highly energized and loved to move. In the house he was very well mannered and laid around like a lazy boy.
• The grace, strength and beauty in his running. Reed could run like the wind. At full speed he was glorious to watch, galloping like a thoroughbred horse. In his prime he could never be outpaced by another dog. And we could never wear him out. I think he could have run forever.
• His love of the vistas and the night sky. Reed loved to find a spot where he could see the view. When we moved to Cave Creek and a big lot with 360 views, he would spend hours outside looking out onto the horizon. And at night, he would gaze up watching the night sky. After his transition, he told me that he wasn’t just looking at the night skies, but he was communing with the stars where he originated.
• His delight in going anywhere, even if he had to stay in the car for hours. He would always be much happier to go with me than stay at home. He had a cozy, comfortable spot in my Rav4 that I outfitted with blankets. That was his special travel spot. So as long as it wasn’t too hot or cold, Reed accompanied me everywhere I went.
• The sounds he could make were so fun. He talked to us sometimes in his “wookie” language. Sort of like sighs and grunts mixed together in a funny way. He wasn’t much of a barker or watch dog, so when he did bark I took notice. When the dogs across the street would sound their bark alarm, Reed would pick up on the signal and bark along with them.
• He loved to lay on his back with his legs sticking straight up in the air. He could lay like that for hours, sleeping, especially when one side was braced against the wall. So most of the lower walls in the house had some dark marks where he preferred to lay down. He also loved to get up on the bed. For years he wasn’t allowed on the bed, but in the last 3 years when things had changed in my life, I let him get up on the bed. He just loved that. He was like a king on his thrown. When it was cold, he would cuddle with me. When it was hot, he would sleep on the floor and then in the morning he would jump up on the bed for morning snuggles. I’m not sure which of us loved that more.
• Reed loved to sleep in. There was no 6 am wakeup call from him. He could easily lay around until 10 or 11 am, sometimes as late as noon.
Reed’s consciousness was much larger than most dogs. He truly was a radiant star being in a dog’s body. We were able to communicate on so many levels. Since his transition, he has reassured me repeatedly that he is with me. He explained that because he was now the energy of love and pure consciousness, for us to communicate, I need to be in the space of love. Sorrow and depression will cause me to not feel the connection. This has provided me the awareness and incentive to stay in my heart to feel his love with me.
As his body faded, Reed’s spirit became stronger and he radiated such love. He shared his wisdom for a happy life. “Love unconditionally everything that comes into your life. Be the first to forgive and forgive quickly. Live now.“ Reed lived with that grace always. May we all be blessed to love so and to receive such love in our lives.
Reed’s love of adventure, sweet temperament, deep awareness and sheer delight in being alive will never leave me. Reed, thank you for sharing my life. We had such a wonderful life together. You will always be in my heart. I LOVE YOU BIG GUY!
Gail C.
