I really can't believe that it's two years today since we lost a big boy that was such a huge part of SHAK. Bodie arrived with such a big reputation. Little were we to know how much he would play a big part in our lives.....
This morning we found he had passed away in his sleep.
Bodie was a mess and scary on arrival, but he quickly came around. Its a testament to him that when I spoke to people today to tell them he'd gone, at least three volunteers came back with "he was the first SHAK dog I walked." Even more incredibly was that when David came to work he admitted he was scared of German Shepherds. Guess who I made him walk on his second day.....
Bodie has left everyone devastated. Being at the kennels will never be the same without Doyle's sidekick. However, like I told everyone today, we can all be extremely proud of him, and consider ourselves extremely lucky to of spent 3 years with such an amazing, gentle giant. After all before coming to us he'd been left to fend for himself in the snow for 3 weeks, and was less than 24 hours from getting a bullet.
There are so many stories and tales about this big guy and his brother, but for me personally there are two I will never forget. The day they arrived, muzzled, matted and ready to eat me. Stopping just inches from me as they hurled from the transit van that they had travelled in.
Secondly today, as I wheeled his shrouded brother past his kennel, Doyle stopped and sniffed him from head to toe and back again, licking him on the way back up, and crying. He then started playing with his ball again.
Brothers too the end, but life goes on. We all miss you Bodie, the world is an emptier place without you in it. Thank you for showing us so much.
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| Bodie the day after he arrived. |
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| Years of oil engrained in his coat. |
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| How we all remember him. |