Marley Dawg Luther

Marley Dawg Luther (June 24, 2000 – January 4, 2011)

My name was Marley Dawg Luther and I  was just over ten years old when I left this world. It was a cold bright blue winter morning. The kind where the sun would begin to peek through the tall windows at the back of the house and the ground would crunch under my feet.  It didn’t feel any different than any other day, but I knew it was. And I was ready. The last two months have been pretty painful and I just feel different. Mostly, I’m tired. I’m tired of being in pain. Luckily, my family sees it, too. They just want the pain to go away for me. But I’m not complaining. I’ve had a great life. I lived in two pretty cool houses, and I was loved very much by the people who took care of me.

I remember going for walks and running after the heavy rubber ball on the fields near the school where we used to live. That big guy used to throw that thing far. Over and over again. And on the way home, I would stop for the little children to give me a pat on the head or rub my belly. I liked that. I remember going to the beach after long car rides, swimming after sticks and running around in the waves with my friend Athena. I loved the water. And I was a happy little dog.

Then we moved to a bigger house with a much bigger backyard. That was nice.  Then the little boy and girl showed up, and nobody even ignored me. And when they got old enough to play, the kids were always there to hug me and feed me and give me a smootch and rub my belly. I liked that, too. And when we came back from walks around the block and played in the backyard, the kids would sometimes spray me with the hose, and that felt really good, especially on those really hot days in the summertime.

But as I got older, I kind of slowed down a little. My ears hurt, my bones hurt, and I really couldn’t run very much. And then I got really sick, and I didn’t like that at all.

But I was a very happy dog and I lived a wonderful life. I just wanted you all to know. I will miss you all as much as you miss me, but it is for the best. I have just one final wish. Could someone please, please, please get those freaking squirrels once and for all! I mean, how hard could it possibly be?! They come right up to you people. They are daring you to shoot them, for crying out loud.