RAISING KANE

It's not been a good autumn for our dogs... Lynne bid farewell to her beloved Kane this past weekend. There's getting to be quite a crowd at the end of the Rainbow Bridge. More pals for them to play with at one end, some broken hearts at this end. But we know they're all feeling like puppies again over there — free from the infirmities of age, free to run like the wind, free to find the very best smells on each blade of the greenest grass.

I don't think I can do better than Lynne in telling the tale of a life well lived. Here is what she wrote:

After 13 years of being the joy of my life, Kane passed peacefully in my arms on Nov. 15. In early November 1995 Jenny and I travelled the dark roads of the Highlands to look at an 8 week old chocolate lab puppy. Only 2 puppies remained out of a large litter. One pup was into everything and the other pup sat quietly on the mat at the front door. Of course we chose the one that had to be hauled out of cupboards. That puppy never stopped.

Everything in his world was to be savoured. Wood bugs were his favourite because he could make them curl up just by sticking his nose on them. New leather shoes were the best for chewing. Although the cats were well ahead of him in the pecking order, he could terrorize them by his frantic dashes through the house and yard making his turns by banking off the couch. My vehicles always sported signs that clearly said "this car is used for transporting a dog that drools out the window". Many days I would drive down the road with Kane's face hanging out enjoying the breeze. Wolfie and/or Bailey were often seen sharing the window with him.

Kane had many favourite spots (his most favourite spot was almost always where ever he was at that moment in time) but Island View Beach was a place he loved all his life. We spent many hours there while I threw sticks for him to retrieve. He loved to swim but any amount of water was good whether it was the ocean, a lake, the bathtub, or a puddle. He took great joy in greeting other dogs and enjoyed the time he spent walking with the group.

On Saturday morning Kane went for his last walk on the sand at Island View. He took time to greet another dog and to gnaw on a stick and to go as far down the beach as he could. Although he could no longer swim at least he was able to wade a bit. He got to see some of his closest four legged friends before our last trip to Sidney and Austin and Maddy rode with him in the back of the "dog mobile". He had Lori and her staff well trained. The liver cookies are in the bottom drawer and he scored a couple on Saturday. He nobly dealt with arthritis but he was experiencing increasing nerve damage in his hind quarters. He was still a puppy but was trapped in an old dog's body. He is out of pain and is no doubt enjoying running again with Sadie, Monty, Poutine and Chinook (who was at his last walk with the group.) I feel truly blessed to have had the privilege of loving Kane, a loving, kind and loyal friend.