Sutter, 12/11/97
Sutter, the sweetest teddy bear of a dog, had a rich long
life, yet it was very difficult to see him go, and we sorely miss him.
Sutter very much lived in the moment, and he taught us that sometimes it
is the simple pleasures of life that are the most important. He was an
extremely happy dog. Whether it was his intense infatuation with the ball
you were about to throw, a kitty he was staring at, or later in life, what
was being cooked in the kitchen, or what you were eating, or very late
in life, yipping for attention while lying on the kitchen floor, Sutter
exhibited a degree of focus that is difficult to emulate.
Sutter was a rescued dog - he came from an animal shelter in San Jose,
California in February 1988 when he was approximately 4 years old. The
shelter was about to euthanize him since he had been there a while and
not been adopted. I agreed to adopt him over the phone and took him in
originally with the idea of finding him another home, since we weren't
sure we wanted another dog. However while trying to find a suitable situation,
we strongly bonded, and that was the end of any talk of him leaving. Initially
he was very shy and difficult to connect with - and often cowered as he
walked - he showed the classic signs of a dog that had been abused. However
with much love he soon blossomed and was so happy he finally had a good
home.
He had the most gentle mouth - if you had food in your hand, he would so
carefully nibble on it. He also had the softest fur of any dog I have ever
had. Friends referred to his "bloomers" or very long, thick,
silky hair suspended from his hind quarters more than halfway down his
back legs.
He succumbed to a complication as a result of inflammatory bowel disease,
which made it difficult for him to digest food. Arthritis limited his mobility.
Even so, during his last days he would have bouts of enthusiasm and surges
of energy as he charged up the road towards the neighbor's house. He walked
that wonderful line between being a tough independent survivor and a gentle
happy soul.
Sutter you were one of a kind and are so greatly missed.
Bob Schlesinger