Goodbye Blixa T. Dogg

'Round about 1993 I decided I needed a dog. I was an apartment dweller, so, he needed to be small. I wanted either a chihuahua or a jack russell. So, off to the local animal shelters I went. I hunted and hunted and eventually found this cute little guy who was a chihuahua/jack russell mix. It was meant to be, right? He was full of attitude even at the shelter and was in a kennel with 4 big dogs, totally holding his own. Apparently they couldn't have him with the other small dogs.

I took him home with him literally riding on my shoulder like some demented parrot because he just couldn't get close enough to me. He was so happy and thankful to be sprung from his cell.

He was about 9 months old, I was 20/21. We weren't actually allowed to have dogs in our building, but, when did I ever let a silly things like rules stop me? I used to carry him in and out of the building in my backpack.

He slept curled up by my side every night until he got too old to jump anymore. If I sat in any one spot for too long, it became MY spot and he would ferociously guard it. He could escape any blockade you set up to keep him out. He could knock over any trash can. He sang. He would sit like a meerkat, staring at you, waiting for food.

He lived in 6 different places with me. He loved to go hiking and people would always be shocked by the little dog that could scale mountains. He was part mountain goat, dontcha know?

He started slowing down around 14 years old, but, the last year it has been evident he wasn't long for this world.

I said good bye to my cranky little companion around 11:30 in the morning on November 18th. He will be dearly, dearly missed.