It was March when we first met. I was a young man, he was a little puppy, freshly collected from the pound. One of our first interactions involved me, sick as all get out, curled up on the floor. He was an active pup, but he chose to come and cuddle with me, keeping me company in my feverish state. From that day forward we formed a bond of love and mutual respect.
He was not normally a super attention seeking dog. Most of the time he would simply pause in front of you and wait patiently for a loving head scratch. Sometimes he would calmly insert himself under your hand, or press his head against your thigh, but the result would still be the same. A head scratch and then some pleasant lounging.
When he was a puppy he was small enough to get lost in the monkey grass out back. Only his little black tail could be seen poking up from beneath the grassy plants. He also loved digging. I don't remember exactly how many times he managed to dig his way under the fence and wander out into the world, but he always came back. He was filled with wanderlust. He escaped because he loved to explore, and he wanted to explore as much as possible. However, he knew where home was and who his family was. If we pulled up beside him in the car and opened the door he would frequently just hop right in. He really enjoyed car rides.
He stopped being small pretty quick. In his prime he would rise up on his hind legs, put his paws on my shoulders, and look me square in the eye. While sitting on the top bunk, reading or playing with legos, he would frequently leap from standing and land beside me. While some people might have rules about dogs on beds or couches, Frodo understood that he was a part of the family. Most winter nights he could be found on mom's bed, keeping her warmer than she generally wanted to be.
There was only one thing he feared, and that was thunder (or really anything that sounded like it). This is a most unfortunate fear to have in Virginia, especially in the early summer months. When thunder rolled he would breathe heavily, pace constantly, and sometimes dig at carpet. But all he wanted was to be close to someone to give him comfort. There were lots of stormy nights when he would stick to me like glue, panting and listening as I spoke comfort to his stressed soul.
I love Frodo. Every time I came home he was waiting for me. He gave me as much if not more comfort than I ever could have given him. He held on for a long time and lived an amazing life. I don't know when it happened, but I stopped thinking of him as a pet. He was my friend, my family. He was my brother. Sure he got grumpy if you tried to take a tissue away from him, but who wouldn't? He cared for us, watched over us, and protected us from passing dogs, cats, and squirrels.
I'll miss you, Frodo.
Rest in Peace.
