In Memoriam

Sprocket, April 20th, 2009

Sprocket was adopted from the Heart of the Catskills Humane Society in Delhi, New York, in April of 2009

Sara had been in an awful, head-on collision a week prior.  Not only was she in a lot of physical pain, but she was very depressed.  When we went to the shelter, we weren't sure what we were looking for, and we met a lot of very nice dogs.

But one young dog, called Marley by the staff, seemed to have an extra spark of intelligence.  He was easy-going and relaxed with us right away, and didn't seem to pay the other dogs much attention while they barked at us passing by.

We brought him home within a week, and he immediately bonded deeply with the family.  Ozzy was right away his best friend and mentor (and sometimes accomplice).


In June of 2009, Sprocket was eight or nine months old, weighed 45 pounds,and rode over 2,200 miles across country on our laps in Old Smokey, the formerly powered by woodgas Ford Ranger.

Sprocket flourished in the desert.  He loved the wide open spaces and the wildlife.  He went on adventures every day, and walked hundreds of miles exploring every tiny niche of our properties.

He played tag with javelinas, and ran with the mule deer.  He brought back several fallen antlers to show us.  His favorite activity was chasing the hawks and buzzards in the sky.  We encouraged him to do this because it was a potentially endless source of exercise, and also because he would chase the birds out of the sky who were too interested in our chickens.

The worst pain comes from knowing what his little sister Naia will be missing.  Sprocket was a great nurturer and protector of baby animals.  Once we watched some baby goats for our neighbor, and he loved them so much that he chased the songbirds away, trying to protect them.

He was actively teaching this to Naia.  Naia seems to have a strong bird-dog line in her blood, and she loves to flush quail.  Once, just a few short months ago, Naia actually pounced on a quail, and almost caught it, but Sprocket sprang into action and bit her leg.  She was so shocked (Sprocket had never so much as nipped at her before) she forgot the bird and it got away.  I was confident that Sprocket would teach her all about protecting the chickens.

Now she has no older, desert dog to guide her.  She's never seen a snake.  Sprocket knew them very well, from an unfortunate incident where I had to bludgeon one to death in front of him.  He knew what they looked like, where they would hide, that they could move quick as lightning, and most importantly he knew to give them a wide berth.
 
Naia was supposed to learn from his experience, but now she must stumble through this dangerous desert alone, with no guidance or doggy-wisdom.  She is goofy and over-confident, bossy and clumsy.  Sprocket was fleet, lithe, clever, and watchful.  I hope the desert embraces her, though clearly there are no guarantees in life.

Since the day he came home with us, Sprocket has been our constant companion.  He has traveled with us thousands of miles, met so many people, and shared so many adventures with us.  He was truly an irreplaceable member of our family.  There will never be another like him.  He loved so deeply.

We will always love you, Sprocket, and cherish your memory.  You were a great dog, and the best friend anyone could hope for.