20160204 (petlove)

Andy's dog, Sampson, to whom I fell in thrall the moment he arrived. (photo 11-26-99)

Some of my fondest memories

Of life in Cleveland Heights were

Of walking Andy’s dog Sampson

Around the blocks of the Fairmount

Lee neighborhood around ten

O’clock summer evenings. I say

Andy’s dog because it was he who

Brought the pooch into our home

On Lee Road. He was between

Schools, having graduated with

A degree in music from the 

University of Miami in Coral

Gables, Florida. He was working 

Evenings at Ruby Tuesday’s 

On Chagrin, and studying

Chemistry and biology at CSU, to

Prepare for the medical school

Entrance exam before applying

To CWRU. A colleague of his

Was trying to find a home for a

Blond Golden Retriever/Collie

Mix. I’d not wanted the kids to

Have a dog as I was still smarting

From the horrible flea infestations

We’d had with our first couple of

Cats. But Andy detected a change

In the atmosphere when I often

Asked our neighbors if I could

Walk their dog and befriended a

Stray cat who’d occasionally

Show up at our patio during

Supper. Despite her compliant

Nature it turned out she had

A massive malignancy in her

Belly which was confirmed by

The APL. I paid the euthanasia

Fee, left the cardboard box I’d

Used to transport her (she’d 

Soiled it on the way), and returned

Home to explain to Peter

And Nathaniel that none of

Our cats have ever been allowed

A natural death. Soon after

Andy brought home the dog offer

And almost as soon brought home

The dog for a “trial visit.” 

There would be no going back

After that weekend. We all loved

Him. Not very well trained but

He was house-broken. We 

Were told he was two years 

Old. It went beautifully until

Jean and I, Andy and his 

Girl friend at the time, took Sam

For a longer walk one warm

Sunday afternoon to Horseshoe

Lake very close by. On the 

Way home Andy chanced a

Run with Sam near the

Christian Science Church and

Midway Sam collapsed, lay on

The sidewalk, struggling to

Breathe as his muscles clenched.

Andy carried him the short way

Home as we sought help through

The Yellow pages. There was an

Emergency animal clinic out

East to which we took him for

Care. He appeared to have come

Around a bit but couldn’t stand.

We left him for the night and

Picked him up Monday afternoon.

He was epileptic, but there were

Meds. They’d shaved him where

The IVs had been and had kept 

Him in a cool bath for about an 

Hour to bring his temp under

Control. He was welcomed home

And accorded whatever he wanted

Just like a kid back from a 

Tonsillectomy. We contacted the

Original owner to ask her of the

Epilepsy. She knew nothing 

But made clear she was not 

Taking him back. Epilepsy?

Not a problem in our family. 

He took his meds monthly

Just like the rest of us and

Provided many enjoyable 

Years of amusement and

Companionship. 

c. J.S.Manista, 2016