by Marquita Wanslow

Created on: July 16, 2010

Amigo Our Friend

Amigo came into our family as a little golden shepherd puppy.  Amigo grew up to be an amazing dog; he was brave, protective, loyal, loving, and funny.

Amigo started out to be my parent's dog. They raised him in a small town where everyone knew him.  My Dad would go into town from the ranch where he lived and bring Amigo with him.  They would stop at the filling station in town, and my Dad would go in to talk with the other ranchers.  Amigo would lie under the pickup in the shade waiting for my Dad to come out. His favorite thing was when children would come by and feed him ice cream. Amigo would put the ice cream cone between his paws and eat the ice cream, it was a sight to see and he made all the children laugh. Amigo loved to lie in the yard under the pecan trees and pull the pecans toward him. He would crack the pecans with his teeth and then eat them. His coat would get very shiny and beautiful, and he would get as big as a small bear.

Amigo was a big dog and if you did not know him, he looked scary. He was such a loving dog, that we found that hard to understand. He loved his family and did everything in his power to let them know it. He was affectionate, and loved to be scratched, when you scratched him, he would turn over on his back and wiggle around (I swear he would grin) while on his back. Whatever he was told to do he did it immediately and always was very obedient.

At one time, Amigo was playing with a small colt and the Mother got mad and reared up and came down on his lower back with her hooves.The mare's hooves broke Amigo's back, and he had to go into the hospital in the same town where my family lived. My Mom and Dad had to go back to the ranch where they lived, so Amigo was left in our care. When we got him out of the hospital he came home and finished his recovery with us.

My Mom and Dad came and picked him up when he was well enough, and took him home.  When they got into the outskirts of the town they lived in, the marquee at the Holiday Inn said, “Welcome home Amigo.”  This was probably the first time; a dog was ever on a Holiday Inn marquee.

At one time, my Mother and Dad lived on a very remote ranch close to the Rio Grande. My Mother was often alone while my Dad was at work.  Amigo must have had some premonition that she was not safe. If he was outside the house, he would move around the house as my Mother would move inside the house, always being where he could

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