50 lbs of Valentine's Day Chocolate...

by Lisa
(Sandy, Utah)

In February 2003, we traveled from Utah to Oregon to rescue "Lewis", a 50 lb chocolate standard poodle after our 15 year old black standard, Angus left us. Lewis was grossly underweight, wormy, had kennel cough and we were told by Willamette Humane Society he might not live. My husband told me we were getting 50 lbs of chocolate for Valentines Day. Lewis couldn't stand up straight and didn't know how to run. He had only known the interior of a crate, and was a puppy farm escapee.

Our beautiful boy lived for almost seven and one-half years, and we lost him last month after his heart became enlarged and failed. In the short time we were blessed with him, he became a willing participant in horseback trail rides with us and our other standard poodle. His muscles developed, his devotion never waned, and his impact on our lives was permanent. Lewis ran with me each morning, and always had a smile on his face. He survived cancer on the third eyelid near one of his beautiful amber eyes -- and was a trooper the whole time.

He loved to lay in streams along the trail and romp in the water -- but most of all, he loved to drink my Frappucino iced coffee if I left it unattended in the Jeep console. His favorite spot was sitting in the middle of the back seat where he could co-pilot between the front seats as I drove.

He's romping with Angus, Annie and Jag now -- and we miss him dearly.