My MacMillan aka Mackie

Mackie came into our lives after his great uncle, Maxie, died. They were both chocolate brown standard poodles. We mourned Maxie, but felt we needed to get another standard, especially for our then 11 year old daughter. We went back to the breeder 7 months later and brought home Mackie. Mackie was special. He was almost like having a 4 year old little boy in the house. He was so affectionate and mischievous. We could never keep him off the couch in the family room and he would dive into our bed, between my husband and me. He would get so excited when we came home from an outing that he would literally turn cartwheels.

Poodles are water retrievers, and true to his heritage, Mackie loved water. He would follow me around the deck when I watered the flowers hoping to get sprayed by the hose.

He was very loyal and protective. He slept next to our bed every night and wouldn't get up until we did. This was his routine until he couldn't walk up the steps anymore.

If one of us was sick, he took up vigilance next to the bed and wouldn't move to eat or go out unless we coaxed him and told him it was okay.

He would be at my side when I watched television. I would stroke his head and you could see how contented he was just to be with his family.

When my daughter rescued a kitten, he took this kitten under his wing and taught him how to drink out of the toilet bowl and how to meet and greet. Oliver does those things to this day.

When Oliver was lost and finally found, he ran into the house and stood between Mackie's front legs and Mackie would kiss him. Oliver would then purr.

A year ago Mackie became very ill. His back legs were going due to bone disease. He was fifteen, and we had a birthday party with my friends 2 labrador retrievers to celebrate. He was doing okay. We thought for sure he would make his 16th birthday. He was always in good spirits and never once complained. He wagged his tail when we entered the house and spoke to him, otherwise it was down. On April 27 of this year, just 3 months short of his 16th birthday he passed away. It was one of the worst days in my life because I had to take him to the vet with my husband and now 27 year old daughter who did not want to hear what the vet was saying. Neither did my husband nor I. We left the vet's office without our beloved pet, sobbing all the way home and for days after. I am still sad because I miss him so.

I said I wouldn't get another dog because I couldn't go through the pain of losing another one again. However, even though I am not ready yet, I am contemplating getting another standard. They are wonderful animals with marvelous dispositions. I just love them.