My four-pawed angel

By MARTY VAN DUYNE
For The Stafford County Sun
Published: November 19, 2008

Just over a week ago, I rode in the back seat. It was a Monday evening. I clutched safely in my arms a well-worn Scooby Doo blanket that gently covered the small white box containing the ashes of my Service Dog, Sergeant II.

Born in Madison County on Aug. 1, 2000, he was turned over to the county shelter at 8 weeks of age with his Mom and littermates. I adopted him on Oct. 21 at 12 weeks of age at the Fredericksburg Central Park PetSmart.

Despite having a rough start, I gave my Sheprador Hound (American Foxhound, Labrador Retriever, and German Shepherd Dog) the best life I could. But this four pawed Angel gave me much more than I could ever repay.

Although my Sergeant had a tendency to want to follow his nose, he was also an extremely smart dog who learned his lessons well.

Despite being diagnosed with hip dysplasia at about 9 months of age, since he kept me from crossing the street in front of an oncoming speeding car the day before, he immediately sealed his career as a working dog.

He could bring me the cordless phone and would brace so that I could lean on his shoulder. He would awaken me each morning and would also alert me to the sound of alarms that I cannot hear when sleeping. He was so tuned into the sound of a smoke detector that he regularly sped to my side to alert me to vacate the house even when that distinctive sound was emitted from a television set.

Sergeant donned his ‘In Training’ vest at one year of age to begin his public training at businesses along State Route 3. After being welcomed with open arms at K-Mart, he also became a frequent customer at Kohls, Hecht’s, Michaels and Bank of America.

He learned proper dining etiquette at McDonalds in Chatham Square and the fundamentals of handling mail at the Falmouth Post Office. Sergeant especially enjoyed banking at the BB&T on Warrenton Rd. since one employee allowed me to withdraw ‘multiple’ doggy cookies for him.

At about 18 months of age, he graduated to his red ‘Service Dog Vest.’

From that point he was almost constantly by my side and always fell smartly into step beside my shopping cart when in a store. And he stood proudly by my side at the polls every election day.

My boy did not have an easy life. He developed allergies that required monthly injections and when he was about 4 years old he began to have seizures. About two years ago he began to show signs of arthritis and since then it has been a very rough road for my little Sheprador Hound.

He had a very large intramuscular lipoma removed from under his shoulder in late March and in late August was diagnosed with an extremely aggressive cancer.

My boy survived much longer than expected, but had been failing rapidly in his last week. On the morning of Nov. 10, he donned his red vest, got buckled into his seat belt in the back seat of my car, and went with me one last time to fulfill my chores.

He made his final trip with me to the McGuire VA Outpatient Clinic that morning to drop off goodies for the patients for Veterans Day.

As we finished our short route, he leaned his head forward, rested it on my shoulder and softly brushed my check. And I knew it was time. We stopped at England Run Veterinary Clinic and Dr. Julianne Fisher, D.V.M. came out to the car to administer one injection for pain and one to prevent nausea to help get him through the day.

Sergeant spent a quiet afternoon at home with me and my husband Paul. And that evening as Paul drove us to the vet, we snuggled quietly under my boy’s Scooby Doo blanket in the back seat. Then we both sat by my boy’s side as he softly left us.

Although he was a working dog, Sergeant literally loved to take time to smell the flowers and could often be seen sniffing the wild roses or azaleas in our back yard.

He loved Christmas and had his own tree. He would don a set of reindeer antlers before searching his stocking for the bones and cookies hidden deep inside. On Easter Sunday with a set of bunny ears on his head, he searched the grass in his basket for goodies buried by Big Bunny. And he wore a different costume every year to greet the Hob Goblins that arrived to gather treats on Halloween.

He loved birthdays, his adoption anniversary, Valentines Day, and any holiday that gave him the opportunity to unwrap gifts.

And for many years one of the highlights of his day was ensuring that I accompany him and one of his plush animals to the front door twice a day to wave to the children with disabilities that rode the school bus that turned around at the end of the cul de sac. 

Although he received a personal blessing early this year, Sergeant always attended Fredericksburg’s Trinity Episcopal Church annual Blessing of the Animals service for the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

Sergeant also trekked through Old Town Fredericksburg annually in the SPCA Walk for the Animals and participated in many other charitable doggy events such as the Fredericksburg Dog Festival. He especially enjoyed donning his life vest for a swim at the Curtis Park Pool at the Stafford Parks and Recreation Department inaugural Drool in the Pool event in early September.

He was taken from me before his time, but I am grateful for every moment we had together. And I am grateful to everyone that helped me along our eight-year journey.

Although he fulfilled his duties daily either at home or on the road, my Service Dog was also a cherished friend and beloved companion. But my boy was not a pet, he was a working dog and with that distinction comes a special bond.

As anyone partnered with a Service Dog can tell you, you lose much more than a big chunk of your heart when you lose your dog. You also lose the capabilities of everyday life that you have been endowed with by this four pawed Angel.

Marty van Duyne is a member of the Dog Writer’s Association of America.