We got Hercules in May of 1998. I had always been an animal lover, but never had a dog before. At the time, we had two cats, Murphy and Mickey. My husband, Ross, and I had just built our first home the previous year. One Spring day, while in Cheyenne, WY, we meandered through a pet store to pass some time. The next thing I knew, Ross is holding a little black puppy and I hear him matter-of-factly say “We’ll take him.” We hadn’t even discussed getting a dog, to my recollection. I weakly objected, if only briefly (he was such a CUTE puppy!), and the next thing I knew we were buying all the dog-owner necessities. We took Hercules to our new home, and it was now complete! He quickly became the joy of my life and my best buddy! We began walking daily, then added some running, and some hiking. He not only became my best friend, he was my exercise inspiration. It’s hard to say no to a walk, when you have those big brown eyes looking at you with anticipation. To this day, I attribute his coming into our life with my becoming a healthier person. Over the years, he fought some major health battles, including seizures and a tumor, winning each one with determination.
He taught us so many life lessons……..
always greet those you love so that they know it;
always enjoy the simple pleasures of life, like the fresh mountain air and ice cream;
always be kind to strangers, two-legged or four-legged, they may be your next best friend;
help others achieve a better perspective; and, of course………..
ALWAYS enjoy your food!
In his later years, he became slower, quieter, and even more loving. He welcomed new friends to the family: an old lab, Duke; a big rambunctious lab, Viking; and most recently, a new lab puppy, Kugels. He shared with each of them the best parts of himself and how to be the best dogs possible for our family. We will forever be grateful for the 12 years he was in our lives and ALL he gave to us in that time.
We love you, Hercules! (Hercules! Hercules! Hercules!)
Ross, Michelle, and Kugels