I moved to Illinois in 1999. Since my husband didn’t want me to be home without someone brave to protect me, he found me a dog. A pup we named StarBuck. I always added “StarBuck’s double latte with nutmeg” because he had pretty brown sprinkles all over his body.
StarBuck was my friend, albeit a little monster of a puppy, from day one. He challenged us daily, from shaking all the stuffing out of a beanbag chair (that stuff clings like spiderweb to the ceilings) to eating a large corner of an overstuffed sofa. He took great pleasure in terrorizing his mentor, “Tifa,” a sweet, Shiba Inu adopted just a few months before “his immenseness” moved in. She turned the tables on him as the alpha-bitch in the house by maintaining a firm hold on his neck as he tried to run around the yard, giving him the appearance of wearing a giant necklace.
His coat was at least half white and twice a year, or more, it would shed and cover the carpets. I got into the habit of saving his “wool” when we would strip his coat in hopes of one day, having it spun. I am so grateful, now, that I did that. Some day soon, his coat will warm me as it once did my best friend.
I used to tell “Buck” that he was the reincarnation of another dog, Mac, that I’d had when I was about 11 years old. I had no parental guidance and he wasn’t allowed in the house, so the poor old man spent his life waiting for me to get him food and water in a doghouse. As an adult, my embarrassment at Mac’s treatment knows only daily prayer/determination to be the best I can be now, for all my companion animals.
StarBuck was everything a dog could be. He was devoted, of course. He was an Akita, the epitome of canine devotion. Just watch “Hachi” sometime, if you don’t know about Akitas, or any devoted canine companion, for that matter! Have tissues handy.
StarBuck’s vets loved him. All the vet techs LOVED him. In fact, I daresay, anyone who had the joy of meeting him, LOVED him. There were many times his vet would say, “if he hadn’t been neutered he would have made an incredible contribution to the Akita breed temperament.” In fact, the head veterinarian at our clinic was once heard to say, this is the best dog we’ve ever had in here…no, I am serious!”
StarBuck greeted children, sometimes to his chagrin, in costume, every Halloween. He loved going for walks, going anywhere in the car, trips to the park and treks along the Kishwaukee River. His behavior and love for people was so amazing, even a tiny child could walk this 140 lb. behemoth with a loose “J” loop in the lead. His biggest failing was giving you a complete bath with his huge tongue whenever given the chance. He wouldn’t miss a spot on any exposed skin and didn’t care if you WERE wearing clothes…he’d just wash your jeans.
His gentleness could be put up against any golden, lab or newfie, with confidence. Whenever I heard about human stupidity, such as “breed specific dog legislation” I could just chortle the authors! With just a few more weeks training, he could easily have earned a certificate as a therapy dog. It was me, who lacked the time. StarBuck always had the inclination and the energy.
That is, until his last days.
We knew…it was time. He took his last breath on my knee as I stroked his face and told him, “I’m right here, buddy…I’ll always be right here.”
We were privileged to know such a noble, brave, unequaled spirit. It was my great fortune to be able to call him my friend and share him with as many people as we could fit into his all-to-short life. There will never be another StarBuck.