Forever friends

Ten days ago, my dog Rory had surgery on his torn ACL. He is recovering like gangbusters, and I want to thank everyone for their good wishes.  I feel incredibly lucky at his continuing good health.

But today’s column is dedicated to the dogs that have gone before him — to the dogs in my past, my friends’ best buds, and , in fact, any dog who has brought joy to his or her person.

To Pepe, a true hound dog who loved to chase cars (and caught a few from time to time).

To Muffin, a cute little dog with a girlie name, whose long hair hid one eye and a sneak-up-behind-you bite.

To two dogs named Booger, one who never really learned to come when his name was called, and the other who would have been wise to hide when it was.

To Ubu, the ‘five-minute dog,’ whose excitability (and poor sense of direction) lives forever in legend.

To Pepper, a sweetheart of a dog who introduced me to cockapoos, and inspired me to bring Rory into my life.

To Rocky, the smartest Sheltie I ever met, and Beth’s best friend for more than a decade.

To Juneau, a beautiful white American Eskimo dog who loved Lisa very much.

To Digger and O’Malley, Paul’s best friends, who traveled with him across the US (and, in O’Malley’s case, Europe, too).

And to Shooter, Mike’s very best friend, who left him Sunday for the biggest journey of all.

We will never forget you.

Pay tribute to a dog friend you have known and loved by making a contribution this holiday season to the Humane Society of the United States.