Data 1996-2010

On Friday, after much crying and soul searching, we had Data put down. It was one of the hardest decisions I ever made.

Data's health had been deteriorating over the past year but in the last month it was apparent that he would not recover, no matter how pills we gave him. We had to carry him into the vet's as walking was very painful (and he hated going to the vet anyway, so he wouldn't have walked if he could).

Data was there for me for fourteen years; thru some of the most dark and scary times I had faced. Whenever I was crying he would come up and nuzzle me, giving me comfort when I felt I had no one else. He was also there for the good times, letting my nieces and nephews use him as a jungle gym without so much as a whimper. He was especially protective of Mac, as she had lived with us for a year when she was an infant. He wouldn't let anyone-dog or human-come near if he thought they were a threat.

He was my roller-skating partner, something I do not do now as it is not as much fun without him. He was my camping buddy the one time I went camping and he was always there when I came home, no matter how late. No judgement, just a wagging tale and kisses.

He would howl when I was singing off-key to Kate Bush or Tragically Hip; he refused to fetch, prefering instead to steal the ball when we weren't looking. And he loved playing soccer with us, chasing the ball or kids until we all stopped because we were laughing so hard, which is when he would steal the ball and run away with it, expecting us to chase him.

You know that saying, "be the person your dog thinks you are", well, I don't think I ever was that person or ever will be. But for just a while I was to the best friend I could have hoped to have.