Troy on Troy - Amy's Birthday

Today is my dogs 9th birthday. Happy birthday Amy!

"People who know Rebecca and I know that we love our dog more then most people love their family pets. Some have said we are ridiculous but that's OK. We both know its way over the top but there is something different about Amy. The three of us, what we like to call "our pack," have been through a lot together and I honestly believe adversity creates stronger bonds then successes.

Amy comes from a long line of Champion Yellow Labs and her official name is "Amazing Grace Ann Vision." She was one of 8 females and 1 male from her litter. Two separate Veterinarians and a dog trainer each independently chose her as the pick of the litter. Each puppy had on a different colored collar so they could be identified, hers was black. It was amazing to see them all together because they were so white. She is officially a yellow lab but some are lighter than others, she is very white.

The mother of the puppies, Gracie (Gracious Heart) stayed with Rebecca’s ex when they separated with the understanding that Gracie would be bred and Rebecca would have the first pick of the litter. We were living back in Huntington Beach and Rebecca got a call on her cell phone from a girlfriend that the ex was starting to sell the puppies and we should get right over. We were out the door and racing to where the puppies were living. We were fired up to say the least!

When we arrived, Rebecca went inside the house and I stayed in the car. (I didn’t care for her ex and thought it best to wait outside.) I told her to watch the puppies and be sure that the puppy she picks is comfortable on its back. I had always found that when picking out a cat or holding a puppy that the ones that let you hold them on their backs and exposing their bellies and neck area were the best. About a half hour later, Rebecca comes walking out with this amazing looking puppy and I get out of the car and meet her there in the middle of the street. She hands me Amy and I will never forget what she asked me..."Is this one all right?" I literally get tears in my eyes as I take her. A couple of introductory kisses and I hold her in my lap as we drive off in the car. She was so scared, she cried a little bit and actually lost her bladder on me, and I didn't care. I finally had a yellow lab and she was perfect. Isn't puppy breath the best?

We lived with Amy for a couple of years on Maui, which she loved as you can imagine. You still can't say the combo of words "Baby Beach." You can say beach and she gets excited but "Baby Beach" has a totally different reaction. It is a stretch of beach, just North of Lahaina, about a mile long. Crystal clear water protected by a reef about a quarter mile out. At the deepest, it is maybe 4 feet so you could walk out a really long way and just hang out, which we did often. There are literally no waves or even ripples, just a gentle current that keeps clear warm waters gently moving in and out with the tides.

Here is her perfect morning and something we did at least 5 times a week. We would leave the house with a bottle of water for the dog, three towels and and enough cash to hit the local coffee shack in Napili where we lived. We would sometimes get her one of those fake bagel doggy biscuits, a couple of coffees for the Rebecca and me and head out. About a block away, she starts to panic with excitement because she knows right where we are going. By the time I parked the car, she was actually crying and bouncing from side to side. We would open the door for her and she was off. To get to the beach you walk down a level cement sidewalk for about 50 feet, turn right and continue on the same sidewalk for another 100 feet then from there, the cement ends and you go out onto the sand. Depending on the tide, the water was another 50 feet away. I think her best time from the car to the water was about 2.8 seconds but averaged about 3.5. By the time we came around the corner, she is in the water looking back at us with the biggest grin you have ever seen on a dog.

First things first we would walk from one end to the other. I would pick up a coconut which there would be a hundred or so littered on the beach. That was our Hawaiian tennis ball. We would play fetch on the way down and then all walk in the shallow water all the way back to where we started. This end of the beach has loose coral and lava rocks scattered around the shallows and for what ever reason, this drove her mad. She finds a rock, hikes it between her legs until it is shallow enough to reach without getting her head too far under water. Depending on how long we would stay there, sometimes I would have to throw 50 plus rocks back in to the water before we left.

The morning would come to an end by swimming with her in our pool to get the salt water off of her. She would then drink a ton of water and take her morning nap. Not a bad way to start your day. We took her back to Maui with us in April of last year. She flew first class both ways and has her Hawaii dog passport so she doesn't have to be held up in quarantine. During our month long visit, (only 1 week of it was for actual vacation) we took her back there at least 15 times. The first time back was like she had never left. Same reaction, same walk, same hunting for rocks, she loves that place. One day, my ashes are going to be spread with hers and Rebecca's, right in that corner where we all played together, it is a special place.

So today is her birthday and we are making it special for her... by making it fun for all of us. She started off this morning with an extra generous portion of Kibble. We are going to do an afternoon swim followed by a trip to Home Depot. Finally, we will all be going out for a special dinner at Morton's. Yes, she goes everywhere with us including restaurants. Just put on her service dog jacket and she is allowed on planes, restaurants, Hotels... you name it.

I have tons of other stories like battling a drug dealer’s pit bull on Maui or our times at wineries in Napa. But "it" is just a dog to 99.9% of the population. Never mind she has about a 400 word vocabulary from commands to the things she likes. She even knows some sign language. She is great at agility courses and I think she could have competed in her prime at the jumping contests you see on ESPN.

Yes, we love our Amers and she loves us. It is really a great thing being part of this pack and I hope we are lucky enough to have another nine years with her. I only wish dogs lived longer, much longer. At least our pack will have eternity at Baby Beach. For the record, if dogs aren't allowed in heaven, I'm not going!

Fight On!

Troy