Biscuit: An Appreciation

Doug, Biscuit’s Daddy and my husband and partner is life, wrote a heartfelt appreciation letter to our little Biscuit, shown below.  Additionally, a few of my favorite photographs of Doug and Biscuit together accompany these exceptional words.  The final image, shown below, was taken on Biscuit’s first boat ride in Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia — one of Doug’s favorite images of our little Biscuit.  We both miss Biscuit very deeply.

Biscuit,

I truly hoped this day would never come.  You have been gone for only a short time, but already it seems like an eternity.  I miss everything about you: the sound of your nails on the hardwood floor; your Sheltie stretch before a walk; your Sheltie shake after waking up from a nap; the way you seemed to fall over effortlessly for a belly rub.  But most of all I miss your amazing smile.  Your smile had transformative powers:  A single glimpse of it could turn a bad day into a good one or provide reassurance in a time of need.  Your trademark smile always began as a serious forward-looking stare; and then with perfect timing you turned your head to one side and opened your mouth, culminating in a full ear-to-ear smile.  Even on your last day, you managed a momentary smile, as if to tell us that everything will be OK.  I know that you are in a better place now; there is no more pain, no more doctor’s visits…no more restricted diets.  But most importantly, I want you to know how grateful I am to have met you and to have been part of your life.  A more loyal, honest friend does not exist; you are literally the best friend any person could ask for.

I will never forget the first day we met, Christmas Eve 2010.  I knew instantly that you were the perfect Sheltie.  You were simultaneously the most handsome and most sad dog I had ever seen.  You had been found a few months earlier wandering the streets, abandoned and severely malnourished.  When Carol opened the sliding glass door leading to her backyard, all but one of the Shelties ran out and started to play.  You were the sole hold-out, choosing instead to hide on Carol’s deck.  The story of our meeting is important because it demonstrates just how far you came in such a short amount of time.  On that Christmas Eve day, you were timid, shy, and riddled with anxiety.  The Biscuit of today hardly resembles the Sheltie I first met in rescue two and a half years ago.  Your fur coat thickened and changed color; you got your confidence back; you started to walk around the neighborhood with your head held high; you began to engage people and play with other dogs…and you became very persistent requesting more food.  Your transformation was extraordinary.  And your newfound happiness was obvious just by looking at your radiant smile and bright brown eyes.

Our time together was short, but filled with enough memories to last a lifetime.  I cannot possibly list everything here, but I wanted to share some of my fondest memories with you one last time.  We learned early that your favorite food was barbecue chicken and your favorite dessert was vanilla ice cream from Chick-Fil-A.  I don’t know how many trips we made to Andy Nelson’s or Mission BBQ for dinner, but I can assure you that the restaurant staff knew you as a regular.  I will never forget sharing Chick-Fil-A ice cream cups with you; or how you liked to stick your snout into the cup to get every last bit of ice cream.  You were always a good-sport, tolerating indignities such as a panda bear Halloween costume, reindeer antlers at Christmas, and seasonal Steven Van Zandt-like  bandannas.  You were adventurous and an excellent traveler: you visited five Orvis stores in four states, including the flagship store in Manchester, Vermont; you toured the LL Bean campus in Freeport, Maine; you visited your grandparents in Michigan and Ohio two times; and you spent two summer vacations in Nova Scotia.  In Canada, you enjoyed lazy days napping on the deck, tours around Halifax in your Hound-About, and evening runs on the beach.  In your mind, I think the specific destination was always secondary; the most important thing was simply spending time with us.  I couldn’t agree with you more.  Things will never be same without you.

Most of our adventures together have been documented on your blog.  But Biscuit’s Space is more than a website; it is a place where special dogs are given a second chance.  You are the inspiration, namesake, and living proof of the power of Biscuit’s Space.  I promise you that Biscuit’s Space will not end because you are gone, but will continue in your honor.  And when the time is right, I am sure that you will send us another Sheltie in need of a second chance just like you.

I miss you dearly.  Our time together was much too short, but I would not trade it for anything.  You will aways be the most handsome Sheltie I have ever seen.  I love you.  Please wait for us at the bridge….