Beech Tree News Network

Annie dog left us back in 2006.  Her old body just gave out at almost 17.  Permit me to share some memories of her - fond memories.

Annie, half black lab and the rest whatever, was a day brightener.  She always greeted you with a wagging tail and a smile and a bark that would rattle the windows.  

Her countenance would fall if we got in the car to leave, however when we returned, her greeting was back to normal as if all was forgiven and forgotten. 

 Annie subscribed to the tried and true philosophy of human relations of making the other person feel important rather than the other way around.

When our West Highland Terrier grand-dog Fiona came for a visit, Annie twice her size, would flop over on her back and permit Fiona to declare seven kinds of war upon - her letting Fiona think she was giving her a good thrashing...  "I've come down here from Louisville to show you Country Dogs a thing or two and straighten you out when." 

When Fiona wanted to roam our woods and up and down our creek, Annie and the other two dogs would go along riding herd on her - keeping her clear of pitfalls and such, seemly knowing she was a tenderfoot in unfamiliar territory.

Annie thought that a snake had absolutely no business living upon this Earth.  She and her sister Lucy, working in concert - one distracting; the other dispatching sent many of serpents up the trail.  

Annie could chatter her teeth like the sound of castanets.  If she thought it would gain her entry into the house, she would chatter away and tremble, winter or summer it mattered not.  

Annie greeted everyone who came to our house - friend and stranger alike.  However, when neighbors worked cattle just across the fence in front of our house, she would lay the whole time guarding a good size opening under the fence on our side as if to say, "On this side is my territory".

Annie was always kind to the other animals.  When our boy cat Chester came around, she would always greet him with a generous face washing, wishing him a good day.

There is a familiar story about an old man and his dog.  It happened they died on the same day; they were walking together down a strange road when they came to a gate that had the word 'Heaven' written above it.  

The old man knocked and a man opened the gate.  "My dog and I wish to enter", he told the gatekeeper.

"You may enter but your dog can't", the gatekeeper said.  "We don't allow dogs."  

The old man and his dog went on; they came to another gate marked 'Heaven'.

"Come In," the keeper said.  "You and your dog are welcome."  

"That's wonderful," the old man said.  At the other gate marked 'Heaven' they wouldn't let my dog in."

"But my friend," the keeper answered, "THAT WAS NOT HEAVEN."

Annie-dog Locke - born June 1st 1989 past March 6th 2006.

                                                                                         Kindest Regards