Arnold, CA…Last week I lost a friend, his name was Grizzly. He passed away in his sleep after a cancer battle. Yes, he was a dog but he was much more than that, he was a fixture of our family. He was a beautiful ray of sunshine whenever he was around. While Golden’s seem to be a top choice for therapy dogs Grizzly took his emotional intelligence and support to another level. Grizzly was one of those special dogs that was more human than many humans.

In the photo above are three young pups ready to take on the world. The pup on the left just graduated from High School, Grizzly is the pup in the center just starting his canine journey. The pup on the right is now married and following a career in the tech industry. Below are Grizzly and his small friend Tink. As his health started to fail she would not leave his side.

His advice to all of us is to smile, wag your tail & put others ahead of yourself. He also knew when to nuzzle and when to just stand by. He knew how to make everyone around him feel better. It was his job to make not only the humans but even the other pets around him feel special.

For my sons he was a happy fixture of their childhood. I think he knew it was part of his job to ease the emotional strains of their lives. As a parent you knew the boys would be OK as long as Grizzly was there to take care of them.

One of the most one of the most overused terms we hear is “Man’s Best Friend”. Or it’s cynical counterpart if you want a real friend get a dog. Their overuse is prompted by their inherent truth.

Thank you Grizzly!! You were not only my friend but in my life and my son’s lives while we will have and had many pets in our lives you will always be the dog and friend that all others are measured against.

Good bye Grizzly your canine life had a human sized impact.