So in February 2006, though I did not realize it at the time, my life changed in a profound way.
I was contacted by a friend who knew of somebody looking to rehome a young yellow Labrador Retriever. She knew my family were lab enthusiasts and also knew a couple of family friends were thinking of getting a dog. She contacted me to say her friend had recently come to the Province, brought her 6 month old Labrador named Morgan with her and really did not have the time to devote to him that he needed. She wondered if I knew of anybody who was looking for a new dog. If I did not, he would probably be going to one of the rescues.
We arranged a time to meet.
I will never forget that evening.
She opened my door and this rambunctious ball of energy tore through my house. He was a whirlwind. He jumped into my arms, kissing and nibbling at my face and I immediately knew he was mine. Looking back, I admit it was a very sudden decision. I was not looking for a puppy. I was working as a social worker, doing a heck of a lot of diving…my life was not stable. I agreed to the meeting not even considering keeping a puppy. However, it felt right.
I remember my friend asking me,
“So, you think you know of somebody who would like him”
I said “ya, pretty sure I do…me”
They both just sat there in silence.
“Really”, they both responded.
I nodded
“Well, when would you like to take him” they asked
“If it is all the same to you..now” I replied.
They left and he stayed in my arms. We drove by the apartment, picked up his stuff. Next it was to the pet store to buy what we needed and I owned a dog.
I brought Morgan to work the next day with me. My office was on the side of the building. I parked my truck outside my window so I could watch him. He slept the day away completely content with me coming out during breaks and lunch. We did that for a number of weeks straight.
I knew I wanted to start things off right so I called around that day to enrol him in training. To be honest, the first place to call me back, I signed up. I got him on a Wednesday and registered him for class the following Monday.
The old owner kept in touch. She wanted to see him and I had no objections to it. Two days after I got him, we walked together. He was excited to see her but walked with me. Four days later, we visited his apartment. Again, he was excited to see her but when I said “Time to leave”, up he jumped and we continued on our walk without a backward glance. In his mind, he was mine and I was his.
Class rolled around that Monday. I brought him into the room. The trainer looked at me and said “Boy do you have your hands full…I don’t know about this dog”.
Well I did.
I promised Morgan I would work with him and make him the best dog ever. Eight weeks later, we graduated “Top Dog “ in the class. A couple of months after that, we enrolled in Advanced obedience and he graduated “Top Dog” again. Yes he was silly. Yes he was energetic. But I loved him and he was SMART. He loved to work, he loved to play, he loved to cuddle and he loved to eat. The later two were favourites of his. You could teach him anything as long as you had treats and cuddles to give out.
A couple of months after the advanced course completion, the trainer contacted me and asked if he could use Morgan as a demo dog for his classes. We talked about it and I decided it was a great fit. At the start of any of his courses, myself and Morgan would attend and demo for the new students. It was fun. I kept working with Morgan, teaching him new things and the demos got better and better.
Because of this, the trainer also asked me to intern under him with the goal of me becoming a trainer. I did so and a year later, I was teaching. Morgan was always by my side. We tested for the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program and became a certified handler team. I knew he needed friends and I wanted him socialized. I used a similar model to my dive club and started For The Love of Dogs. My goal was for a group of dog lovers to meet once a month or so and walk our dogs together. Our first walk was Bowring Park, it was attended by about 20 people and their dogs. Little did I realize what that would turn into.
I became a volunteer with Heavenly Creatures helping them foster and getting dogs adoptable. Morgan was amazing in this regard. He always had a way with other dogs regardless of their temperaments. Aggressive, fearful, rude…he did not mind one bit. He just looked at them with his goofy face and they became friends.
We took on many challenges in this regard over the years. Tanner, who we later adopted. Rigger, who also became a part of the family. Riley, Diesel, Diesel, Chopper, Angel, Polar, Bentley….he won all of them over with his easy going demeanour and personality.
Morgan was with me through so much. He saw me become a trainer. He saw me leave social work and go back to University. He saw me through my Masters program. He was by my side through relationship ups and downs. Break ups, new meetings, highs and lows, Morgan was a rock for me. Always ready for a cuddle, a walk, a kiss. He was just an all around great dog.
When I was contacted about doing my first community presentation, I did not think twice before saying “yes” as I knew Morgan would be perfect for it. A dog needed to be introduced to a calmer easy going dog, Morgan was my man. A dog fearful person wanted to get exposed to dogs, Morgan stepped up. I used him in child protection to put kids at ease. During my Masters program, he attended class for a mock group session facilitated by one of my classmates who thought it would add to her grade. She was right, he was the star of the show. He was a darling of the media, and a regular at various charity functions and events. He was always ready to step up to any challenge I asked of him…and I constantly asked!!!
Over the last year, Morgan began to slow down. He was struggling on the group dog walks. I remember the first walk I had to leave him home…it was hard for both of us. He wanted to go but I knew his legs could not take it anymore. I could not demo in class with him as he could not handle the movements. He still attended and was happy with the attention but gone were the days of being able to demonstrate doggy push ups and burpies. He needed help getting into and out of the vehicle. Stairs scared him. The last few weeks he was having a lot of trouble with his bladder. When he would try to get up, he would poop, slip on the floor and try to crawl away. Walking around was hard for him. He became short of breath even going from his bed to the back yard. Even his love of food was hampered. I had to mix more flavourful stuff in just to get him to eat. Even then, he rarely finished the bowl.
This weekend was really rough for him. He was sad. Looking back, I was in denial. I kept thinking, he will be ok. He is just old and tired. I was certain we had more time.
Yesterday I taught pet first aid. I came home to see him laying on the floor with pee around him. He raised his head and lay back down again. I got him up, cleaned him, moved him to his bed and contacted Lesley to make a vet appointment for him this morning. I thought this was going to be it for him. I would probably get a couple of days to say good bye and have to make the decision that every owner dreads. I hugged him, scratched him and told him what a great dog he was.
I grabbed a bite to eat and watched some TV. An hour later, I came up over the stairs and went to check on him. I found my boy not moving and not breathing. He had passed away sometime in that last hour.
I sat with him and bawled my eyes out. Tanner, Rayne and our Kitty sat on the floor around him as we all said good bye.
I made arrangements to drop him out to Jackie with Angel Paws this morning. It has been a rough night and a rougher morning. The onslaught of emotions have me on a roller coaster. I go through periods of denial and periods of grief. I smile when I think of his face and cry when I realize he is gone.
Morgan was the reason for everything the last 13 years. Without him, there would not be Ken Reid Dog Trainer. Tanner, Rigger and our Kitty would never have been with me. For the Love of Dogs would not have existed. I would never have met the great people I have over the years nor gotten involved with so many awesome dogs. The causes we took on, the media interviews we have done, the lost dogs we helped….all were born from Morgan. He was quick to bring a smile to the face of anybody. Young, old, two three or four legged. He did not care. He firmly believed everybody and everything loved him. In most cases he was right.
Morgan my friend, I will miss you more than I can ever describe. You meant so much to me. You were the silent calm presence in my life when everything else was crazy. You never judged even if I needed it. Your unwavering love and devotion was amazing. It is something only dogs possess and a quality we humans can only strive to attain.
Run free my sweet boy. Meet all your friends across that Rainbow Bridge, Say to them for me and take care of them until one day we will all be together again.
I love you bud.
