by Carley Gyles

Created on: January 06, 2011

Smokey is a wonderful companion.  We have been through many things together and he has never failed to bring warmth to my heart and a smile to my face.  He is a very sensitive Miniature Schnauzer, 10-1/2 years old, who has survived an encounter with an automobile, the loss of my husband, Cushing's disease, and surgery to remove two large tumors, but still he continues to enjoy life, playing and dancing as though he were still a puppy.  

In 2008, my husband was killed in an automobile accident.  Of course, our family was devastated.  Smokey was, too.  He would not move from the window, sitting and watching the driveway, waiting for Bob to come home.  People came and went from the house; Smokey didn't move for two days.  

When, my son carried in my husband's belongings from the accident, his cowboy boots and his belt, I took them to our bedroom and placed the boots on the floor with the belt tucked inside.  Smokey left the window to follow me.  When I sat down on the bed, Smokey moved to Bob's boots.  He sniffed every inch of the boots and belt, twice, circling them, sniffing top to bottom.  Every inch.  Twice.  He sat down beside the boots and stared straight ahead for a long time, and then he stood up, looked back and forth from me to the boots a few times, and then lay down beside the boots.  With tears streaming, I knelt beside Smokey.  He got up and kissed tears off my face, and then walked in front of me, leading me out of the room.  After that, he stayed close to me but mingled with the family, playing some with our grandson. 

In the days that followed, he guarded Bob's boots.  He took naps where Bob took naps, sat in Bob's chair, and every day about 3:30, he sat in the dining room window as he had always done before, watching the driveway for Bob to come home... 

I had heard of the love of a dog for his master and his grief after losing him; but, the intensity of Smokey's grief surprised me.  After witnessing it, I'll never underestimate that love.  

Smokey is my constant companion.  

My precious little Smokey.

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