First, thank you for reading this.

This week marks one year since my Husky, Juneau passed away at the age of 13. With the weather changing, the first snow and just the time of year, it has reminded me of her and her last days.  I supposed it always will.

I’m not one that sits around and misses my dog all the time.  I understand the first thing you must accept when you adopt a dog is that you’re going to outlive them.  It’s the only flaw they have as a species, they just don’t live long enough.  In December 2010 that little Husky pup was born somewhere, to someone.  But her clear place on earth was to be with me.  I believe that.  It took a bit of doing for that to happen.  Somehow becoming a stray and hard to catch, to a shelter, to being hungry, skinny and scared, landing with me at about 1 year old.

I didn’t know it in late 2011 what her role with me would be, but a couple years later I did.  I was living alone in a big old house and for a good long while, she was the only other living, breathing thing in the house with me.  I think she liked it that way, just the two of us while we were there.  She just wanted to be with me, whether we were inside, outside, taking a 5AM snowy walk or having a summer drink on the covered porch. All that mattered to her was that we were together. 

A few years later, when the beautiful Windy came into our lives, all she wanted was to be with the two of us.  She would always be where she could see each of us if we were in different rooms at our new home.  Juneau knew I loved Windy, and that was good enough for her, she loved Windy too.  She made new Pug Friends, Luna and Midnite, and even that new little dog, Nova that was a puppy at the time.  She would follow Windy around as she knew a snack was probably not far away.  I really loved watching that.

As Juneau got older and started to slowly fail, it was very sad for us to see.  When she passed it hit me far harder than I was ready for.   But she never suffered for a single day, though her last few were challenging.  We loved Juneau very much, as it was hard not to.  She was everyone’s friend.  She was kind, fun, and made you feel good.  Yes, her nose was always cold and wet, yes she “talked” a lot and yes she had a ton of energy, but that was just who she was.  She was our friend. And If you didn’t want to be her friend at that moment, that was OK with her, she’d try to be your friend later. 

I believe there are certain players that come into our lives that are supposed to.  Most are human, some are canine. Juneau was my only family for a number of years, as we sort of saved one other.  I was blessed to have her as my friend.  And I’m thankful she’s young and strong now in her prime with shady cool grass to lay in, and all the cold, puffy snow to jump in she could ever want –  forever. 

Today is her birthday……

In case I didn’t say it enough then, thank you Juneau.  Thank you!

“PLEASE  – ALWAYS ADOPT!!!!!”   –  Juneau