Micah Moves On.

Micah the dog, the inspiration for this site more than ten years ago, died on April 17, 2009.

He was the greatest dog to ever live. A friend called him "a credit to his species." He was beautiful, funny, loving, graceful, emotional, sensitive, gentle - lovely.

Micah was my 'constant' - shepherding me from one part of my life to the next and then the next. He saw me through life's joys and tragedies. He moved with me across the country three times, lived with me in many homes, loving the beaches of Vancouver, the parks of Toronto and the hills of Quebec. He welcomed my daughter, loved her completely and understood her cries of sadness and shrieks of joy. He helped me thru the death of my husband like no one else could. Micah introduced me to strangers who became friends, boyfriends and partners. He was a fine matchmaker.

For much of Micah's life, I was lucky to have him with me every day -- all day. He took me on healing walks and adventures to lakes, rivers and mountains. In his 12 years, he experienced a lot of emotion, and took it all in, giving back love and laughs.

In memoralizing him, I have to remember that in his younger days, he was NO saint. Why I didn't realize that the fact that he had been "re-homed" 3 times before I adopted him might have been a warning of 'rough weather ahead', is beyond me. He was just beautiful to look at and I thought it was 'fate' that brought us together! He LOOKED like the perfect companion. Love was blind to reason.

Micah once ate my couch with such vigour, to its total destruction, that when I returned home, it looked like it had snowed. Stuffing was everywhere. The floor was white. (Maybe he was telling me that winter really would become his favourite season?) He ate gloves off the hands of strangers. More than once. He terrorized dogs and their people at the dog park. I had friends who stopped dropping in because he ate their stuff too. He ate a "foreign body" once - and the removal of it from his innards cost me more than the price of a Harvard education. And unlike a Harvard grad, he didn't learn a thing from the experience. He did it again and again.

But looking back, I wouldn't have had it any other way. I loved him completely - as he loved all of us - without judgement.

In a way, I had prepared myself for Micah's death for years. He had a few near death experiences but always bounced back - smiling in the face of vets who doubted he would leave their care. He always did. He was a medical miracle. It was like he knew that I needed him and he was always there for me.

At 12 years of age, his body failed him, in a kind, non-painful way. He was still smiling, still soft and loving and graceful in his manner. But his body (the 'structural' parts) had aged too far and he died - gently, like he had lived. I like to think that Ian welcomed him 'up there' with the best dog treats and squeaky toys available. I am positive that the reunion was amazing.

I will miss Micah forever. I am sad but relieved that 'the end' was the best possible scenario, if there is one, for death. It was a beautiful end to a beautiful life. Thanks to great vet care - to Drs. Lynn Morgan & Tracey Young and every staff member at the Pretoria Pet Hospital in Ottawa for years of amazing, compassionate care - for both pets and their people.

Thanks to great friends who love us all - with Micah and without him.

And thanks to Micah for being the best dog who ever lived.

I love you buddy.