The true character of anyone can often be seen in how they relate to children and to animals and specifically how they interact with them. Those who keep fond memories of pets long gone hold the good times spent with them as well as the relationship they had with that "special" pet.
We might only run across one or two "special" ones in our lifetime that are a cut above the others and we tend to remember them and thereby cherish their memory long after they are gone.
I had a friend that many years ago had a huge white shepherd mix named Bear. For obvious reasons relating to size only. Dave could tell that dog to sit and wait for him anywhere he went and the dog would do just that. He asked me to dog-sit one time for a few days and when he came over to my place and dropped off some food and food/water bowls all he had to do it tell Bear to "stay with Chuck". the dog sat down next to me on the front porch and watched Dave drive off.
Bear was like my own dog for a few days; I could walk him off-leash and take him in my truck and he would obey me when it came to the simple things like "Bear, SIT" and "Bear, STAY" and would respond when asked if he wanted to eat with a wagging tail and big eyes. He was pretty cool, like he knew Dave would return for him and by golly, when Dave knocked on the door a few days later, Bear sat up and looked at me and at the door as if he knew who it was. (probably heard Dave's truck in the driveway) I went to the door and told Bear to SIT, which he did and opened it and then he calmly nuzzled Dave's leg until Dave got down on the floor for some serious tail-wagging.
I swear, Dave could leave Bear at any friends' house the dog had visited before and was comfortable with and someone he knew and Bear would just "adopt" them temporarily until Dave came to pick him up. Quite a few people showed up when Bear passed away and a lot of tears were shed that day at a little "service" Dave held for him.
Quite a dog....Pugsly seems to have had your heart in his paw and vice versa....a good dog and a good owner/buddy/partner.
