Hershey

Hershey, the name was a real misnomer for a pure white Samoyed. We decided it had to do with his sweet personality. He had a smile and a kiss for everyone,whether they wanted it or not.

Hershey came to us from a loving couple who had no room for a very large dog. They had no room for a large dog that shed like a snow storm all over the house. The sound of the vacuum was a continuous droning in our ears, but we got used to it.

Hershey was a digger too,and dug everything planted in the garden and all my flowers. He may have thought we had buried treasure, but I believe he dug for the pure love of feeling the moist soil fly from under his enormous paws. We could bear with this living backhoe because of the innocent joy that shone from his bright brown eyes. Our neighbor, however, felt no such restraint. He had no use for a digger in his garden.

Hershey not only dug up our plants, but the neighbor's as well. Any time he could escape, he made a beeline for the neighbor's budding greenery. He worked diligently to leave no plant unturned. His goal seemed to be to overturn the entire garden before I came for him.

Mr Smith is not his name but will do to identify the neighbor. "Mr. Smith" caught Hershey digging in his garden once too often. He waited until we were gone from home and poisoned Hershey's food. Hershey was confined while we were gone, but still outside. He was still in harm's way. Mr. Smith took the life of an innocent and loving pet, instead of fencing off his garden. We lived in an agricultural area where animals were free and gardens confined.

All of us were heartbroken at the sight of Hershey's snowy body, frozen in death. I brought out the shovel and dug for hours to make a fitting grave under a huge Oak tree. I picked a place where Hershey would have morning sun and evening shade. We had a small service and covered the grave with a confetti of various flower seeds.

Through the snows of winter and rain of spring we missed our digging friend. But one spring morning I looked out the window to see Hershey's grave covered in a rainbow of flowers. His final smile and kiss to those who loved him.

Learn more about this author, Nadine Jester.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Good-bye: True gardening stories relating to love, life and gardening?
We want to hear your view. Write now!