Champ, my parents’ Rottweiler, was euthanized this morning at their house. He spent the morning laying on the lawn, enjoying the unusually warm weather and sunshine. His final resting place is under the shade trees, near all the other dogs who have gone before. His favorite toy, a Curious George doll, accompanied him.
Three and a half years ago, this awful looking Rottweiler wandered onto my parents’ rural Virgina property. Quite a sight, he was skeletal, covered in fleas, and in need of some TLC. He got TLC and then some – my parents took him in, cleaned him up, and he became part of the family. Which I found rather curious, as my parents never liked Rotties — they considered them mean and aggressive dogs. Champ showed them the true nature of a Rottweiler: loyal and kind.
Greeting every visitor with a WOOF and a head-butt, he welcomed anyone and everyone. The UPS and FedEx drivers knew him by name and greeted him as they made their rounds.
Playful, even at his age, he was sometimes a real bruiser of a dog when he played with his own kind. He scared all of my dogs, except Nemo, who seemed to love playing Champ’s games.
He will be missed.
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