Requiem to a Loyal Dog; Monty Boy, May 2005 - Jan 2020

Monty Boy looking happy

The temperature dropped to -23C last night, Jan 6th, in the Pilot Butte area, NE of Regina. For a little black dog, 14 1/2 years old, nearly blind, almost deaf, lost, alone, and terrified, it would be a death knell. If he was still alive. He had run away from his dog sitter Thursday night, January 2nd, and headed out looking for home. Several kilometres away if he even knew that or which direction to go.

His owner, my oldest daughter, was headed to Mexico the next evening with her husband. She posted pictures, notified the lost dog page on Facebook and posted a notice on FB which was shared dozens of times and searched for him until she had to leave. Other friends turned out to search. He was seen once by someone but ran when he was called. He would come only for my daughter. Her sister came down from Saskatoon and searched Saturday and Sunday but nothing.

Nothing would make me happier than learning that rumours of his death were greatly exaggerated and that someone had found him and taken him in.

Maddy

 Monty was my dog initially. After their mom died, the kids decided I should have a dog to keep me from getting lonely. So a year later steps were taken. My oldest daughter had been given a white cockapoo female named Madison (Maddy) with one batch of puppies to her credit and was offered a Tsitzu male for one of the litter.

Monty and five littermates were born on my youngest daughter's bed on cold rainy Saturday at the end of May 2005. My youngest got naming rights since it was her bed and they were all named after talk show hosts. Maddy was not impressed at being a mother again and could not nurse them as much as they needed so they were bottle raised by my eldest with infinite patience.

Monty and Vicki

When the time came to choose, I wanted two puppies so they would have company and someone to play with. One was a gift from the kids, the other I paid for. Monty was the biggest and Vicki was the kissingest pup I ever did see. They lived with me for a year and a half until I remarried and moved to Ukraine in May 2007, at which point my eldest had three dogs.

Monty was not the brightest light on the string but did learn a few things. He learned to ring a bell hung on the back door when he needed to go out. Then he learned if he was bored or couldn't find Vicki that ringing the bell also brought attention. The bell went. For the rest of his life, when he had to go, he just stood at the back door and looked anxious.

Maddy eventually found a home with my daughter's sister in law who needed a dog and liked Maddy who was just like her mom's dog. Vicki got grouchy and was beating up Monty so she went to live with Grandma L after her Davy Dog died of old age. When Grandma went into an assisted living home, Vicki went to live with Grandma's son for several years. Uncle D loved her and when she died a year or so ago, he was heartbroken.

Monty was my daughter's dog. He loved her more than anyone and she loved him. He still welcomed visitors by bringing his favourite toy to show them but he loved my daughter. He loved her husband and liked other people to an extent. And he tolerated his dog sitters. But he was loved by all because he was a good dog.

Monty was reasonably healthy for an old dog. He got cataracts, was losing his hearing and had teeth problems but still had energy and sometimes played like a pup. His plumbing worked fine and so did his appetite.

Monty does the 10-year challenge

When I was in Regina, these past two years, I could see him aging. He didn't meet you at the door anymore because he didn't hear you. He needed help to get up on my chair but would still sleep on my arm like he did when he was a puppy. When I left, I said goodbye to him, knowing that he would likely be gone next time I was back in Canada.

He was a good dog, loved by everyone. It is hard on my daughter. And on her brother and sisters. But Monty has gone where all good doggies go, where he can run and not be afraid, with butterflies and squirrels to chase and lots of dog treats.