Dolan's Pride of Independence

It took me awhile to write this post because I just wasn't up to it.  There will never be an easy time to do it, so I better just get it done.

On May 13th, we bid an extremely sad farewell to Indy, our amazing, lovable and loyal dog.  Indy was born on July 4th, 1997 at a breeder's house in a small town near Maquoketa, Iowa.  I remember the day that Jeff and I went to look at the litter of Siberian Husky puppies.  Oh were they cute!!!  We had done a TON of research on puppies and had determined that a Siberian Husky was the best breed for us.  We had also gathered some tips on picking out the best puppy.  So when we went to the breeder looking for our puppy, we picked up and played with all of the puppies to help make our decision.  It was SO much fun!  We ended up choosing the runt of the litter.  Both of Indy's parents were on site as well, so we also received his purebred papers.  His official name was "Dolan's Pride of Independence" (since he was born on Independence Day) and we called him "Indy" for short.  We took him home when he was just 6 weeks old.  Since he was our first "baby", we even sent out birth announcements.  I'm pretty sure we thought it was funny, but the grandparents weren't nearly as amused.  Indy was alive for almost 15 years, so we have a lot of wonderful memories of him that we will cherish forever.  Here are some of our favorites... in no particular order.

When Grandma Carol and Grandpa Pete met him for the first time, they thought he was a cat!!! 

We took Indy to obedience classes and he did learn some good habits and tricks.  That's not to say he didn't misbehave sometimes, though.  I remember one time when we came home and there was a HUGE phone book ripped to shreds on our kitchen floor and Indy was laying on top of it trying to look innocent.

Indy once caught a bunny while he was on a chain.  Mad skills!!!

Before we had kids, we would wrap Indy's Christmas presents and he was able to open them himself.  We probably have that on video somewhere.  It was hysterical to watch!

When we moved to Colorado, the back of our Yukon was packed with stuff we didn't trust in the moving van.  At the very back in an extremely small space was Indy.  We have a picture of him in his spot and he's looking at us like "You're kidding me, right???".  But, I'm pretty sure he didn't really mind as long as he got to come along!

Indy could eat an ear of corn like a person if we held it for him.

Indy loved tomatoes, shrimp, pickled herring and, of course, corn on the cob!

When we gave Indy a new bone, he would drop it on the ground and then proceed to attack it and play with it before starting to chew it.

In our house in Colorado, if I would lay down on the couch in our living room, Indy would instantly get up and come over so I could pet him.  It didn't matter how tired he was, how sore his hips were or if he had just laid down.

Indy LOVED going for rides with his head out the window and the wind whipping through his fur.

One time shortly after Alex was born, Grandma Judie came to help us out.  She had to leave early in the morning, so she was tiptoeing out of the bedroom and down the hallway when she heard a low growl.  Indy thought she was an intruder and he needed to protect us.  She had to assure him that it was just Grandma Judie before he let her go any further!

Indy was such a sweet dog for our kids to grow up with... he got pinched, tugged, sat on and poked and he put up with it all (and always came back for more!).

Indy had a special relationship with Aunt Julie.  She spoiled him rotten and always gave him tons of attention, love and treats!

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A dog doesn't care if you're rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his.  ~ Quote from "Marley & Me"

RIP Indy Boo ~ We Will Always Love You!!!

7/4/1997 - 5/13/2012