Ode to Atlas the barbarian

Who knew that parting with a dog could be so emotional?

I cried. Not for his sake but for mine. 


Atlas came to me as a surprise in a box on my front step. Kimball was waiting around the corner and I went and got him because I knew he was there... He was mad about it. "Why can't you just at least pretend like you don't know I'm here!!??"
The box was shaking and Kimball had been muttering about delayed furry birthday gifts and what not for weeks.
Dead give away.
This time I knew it wasn't a bunny (Christmas gift 2009, it's had a gift bow on its head).

So there he was, small, scared, cute as heck sitting on my kitchen floor wondering where his mom and his brothers and sisters where.
10 minutes later he'd forgotten all about them and was jumping on me and sniffing around.
He never cried once.

Kimball and I slept on the back porch with him so he wouldn't pee in the house. He'd try to crawl into bed with us and would bite our hair and put his wet nose on our faces.
He grew up to be such a handsome, smart dog.

We decided he would be raised to be an outdoor dog and boy is he ever! Rain, snow or shine he would sleep on his back in the middle of the back yard. Or on top of his dog house for that matter. He didn't know the difference.
Sadly we found that we didn't have the time to give him everything he needed to be a happy outdoor dog. And having such a big dog with all that shedding inside the house with our baby girl seemed impossible.

The best thing for Atlas was to be given a new home where he can live with a family, with kids to play with and people that have time and space for him.

Today a couple came and picked him up. They run a program where dogs are trained to serve as aids to children that have a hard time learning how to read. They help calm their nerves and serve as faithful friends who always listen and never make fun of their reading.
So, Atlas is in a home with some dog friends, a loving family and soon he'll be trained to have a job.

It's exactly what he needs and deserves.
I will miss him for a long time.