Merl

submitted by Linda J.

Merl was my one-in-a-million soul mate and best buddy.  He was half-Rottie/half-Black Lab and was 16 1/2 years old last spring when I had to put him to sleep. 

From the time he was a puppy, we dubbed him "The Babysitter," for he was the self-appointed guardian of all things here on our little 17-acre patch of home.  He would head off a small child, should she begin toddling towards the road, and he kept an eye out for all wandering young’ns, whether they were goslings, chicks, ducklings, calves or foals.  He even kept an eye on my husband and me, should one of us be training a horse in the round pen.  He would circle the pen and pace nervously until we were safely off the horse and out of the pen.  And if the kids took the ponies for a trot around the pasture, you could be sure Merl was right there with them making sure nothing went awry. 

Although the other 3 dogs definitely deferred to him as the alpha male, he was a big lovable baby in my arms.  My daily habit was to sit outside on the back porch steps in the evening to look out over the pasture and unwind from the day.  Merl invariably came to sit beside me.  If it were a normal day he would dig his nose under my hand begging to be scratched and often he lured me into the yard for one last game of fetch. 

If, on occasion, I was feeling blue or worried, he always sensed it and would lay his head in my lap.  He’d look worriedly up at me, content to just be there for me – knowing that it wasn't a good time for games, but that his sympathetic company was all that I needed.

He was uncanny when it came to understanding his humans.  Most dogs will come to know phrases like "Let's go out," and "You want a treat," but I swear Merl understood nearly everything we said.  But, more importantly, I know that Merl and I had a soul connection.  It was as if we were meant to be together.  We were on the same wavelength and understood each other perfectly.  He was truly one in a million and I miss him dearly.

Click here to meet Corey