Kody joined our home during the summer of 1987, when our daughter was leaving the first grade. He was, the Humane Society of Seattle thought, about one year old. He was a beautiful fully-white American Eskimo with a lot of energy and some psycho problems. He had been returned twice. The last time he was adopted by a little old lady who wanted a companion. She had to return him because “he needed more love than she could give him.” He was the right age and size, 17 pounds for us. We had previously lost our red setter-golden retriever mix about two years prior. The first time I saw Kody, he jumped up on his front paws onto the door of the kennel at the Humane Society, where I had been visiting to find a dog. I noticed him right away. It was as if he was saying “I like you!” I took him for a walk and that did it! He stuck to me like glue. He wanted me!

Initially, Kody was a fearful and psycho dog. He would bark at every little sound, piddle, and was very edgy. It took a couple of years before he settled down. He stopped piddling and relaxed, getting used to the sounds of our street and neighborhood in Seattle a block away from Green Lake. He was a wonderful companion and ultimate canine buddy. He loved camping, hiking and going for lots of walks around Green Lake in Seattle.

He was such an active, spry and acrobatic little “white flash,” which is what the mail man named him. Every time the mail man would approach the front porch, (which wasn’t that often) Kody would start his dash from the kitchen at the back of the house, through the dinning room, into the front hall, and then jump at full height, on all fours, to slam into the beveled glass window at the top half of the heavy front door. Usually, he scared the breath out of anyone in front of the door.  He was a good jumper.

You couldn’t say “wanna go for a walk?” He would start jumping around and barking with excitement, making nearly impossible to attach the leash. He attended Canine College. Kody passed his basic “good citizen” training. The trainer also had to American Eskimos, which helped. Back then not many people knew about Eskies.  This breed is very agile. He could have passed for a circus dog. He was so much fun.

I had to make sure we did not leave any food out for he would jump on the kitchen counters to scarf up what ever was there, of no one was watching. I used to say “Kody is part cat.” This was so amazing! Kody had a very youthful spirit! But, he really did not get over his fear biting until later in life. Once, the mail man asked if Kody had died, because he hadn’t seen the “white flash” lately. “No.” I said, “He’s just gone deaf.” This was actually okay with us although we missed our doggy door bell. Oh, there are so many stories to share. We miss his presence. Imagine having a canine buddy for nineteen years.

His last hours were bitter sweet, as if he was ready to go. He touched us until the end. We were glad to be with him at the end and I keep thinking that he was okay with it all. He was so sweet and relaxed until the final end.