Buck
Born in my bedroom closet in 1986, Buck was the quiet one of 5-puppy litter. From the beginning, he was different.

His mother, "Magic", a beautiful black dog, was a gift from Rob Mackle (a pro-triathlete at the time, who graduated from Indiana University & become one of the world's premier triathletes). One day in 1986, Rob called me at work & said to be sure & check my backyard when i got home. When i arrived home, i anxiously looked inside my fence, & was surprised to see this beautiful black dog. Apparently this little dog had followed Rob when he was running that day. Rob didn't know what to do with her, so he gifted her to me! I named her Magic, because she appeared magically, & she was a beautiful pure black animal.

Within a week, Magic began to grow larger. Within two weeks, I realized she was pregnant. A couple of months later, she bore 5 puppies amongst the shoes in my bedroom closet. The last puppy, born with his paws, tail, & belly dipped in white, became the quiet "runt" of the litter. I called him "Buck". Rob came over that evening & experienced the births with me. I remember watching Magic lick the sacs off the babies as they were born.

I built a cardboard home for Magic & her pups in my garage. They all learned to run the trails at Eagle Creek Park, which was quite the sight, as I probably looked like I had a dog sled without a sled. Running with 6 dogs on 6 leashes was quite the workout !

One afternoon, I came home from work, checked the back yard where the dogs stayed during the day, and they had all disappeared from my backyard, except for Buck. To this day, I don't know what happened. They could have been stolen, they might have dug under the fence & followed their adventurous mom. But for some reason, Buck was the only dog of the litter who remained that day. Serendipity.

Over the next 18 years, Buck energetically & willingly volunteered for any adventure I could dream up. He ran hundreds of trail runs, went tent-camping dozens of times, sat in my kayak while i paddled dozens of times, swam in rivers & lakes many times after long, hot runs, climbed several 13,000 ft mountains in Colorado, and even ran the Mini-Marathon. He was up for anything. He even went to Indy Runners parties with me!

But most of all, Buck taught me about friendships & love. He wasn't human, but he taught me a lot about human relationships, in ways that humans can't. There were no turf battles, egos, secrets, manipulation of the truth, hidden agendas, put-downs or angry tirades. He jumped into life & gave of himself without expectations.

He gave me unconditional love. He was amazingly loyal. He both trusted, and gave trust. He always seemed more human, than pet. I always had many friends offering to watch him whenever I left town. For me, he was an example of how we humans ought to treat each other.

I have a lot of fond memories of Buck. He would greet me with leaps of welcome when i'd come home, he loved to alertly sit in my lap whenever i drove. He would bounce up & down any time i reached for my running shoes, & loved to snuggle on the couch while watching TV. He loved to sit & wrestle with kids, would run like a deer in the woods, & loved the outdoors. He was a great pet & friend for my choice of lifestyle. I was lucky.

Often times pet owners who become attached to their pets are laughed at. Some say pets & their owners often look alike. Others say pet owners & their pets take on each other's characteristics. With Buck & i, that may have been true. So go ahead and laugh, I don't care. But i'm a better person for having shared almost 18 years of life with this amazing friend. How many friends can you say that about?
Buck passed away November 25, 2004, in the same bedroom in which he was born in April 1986.

A Poem From Buck
When I am gone, release me, let me go-
I have so many things to see and do.
You must not tie yourself to me with tears,
Be happy that we had so many years.
I gave you my love, you can only guess,
How much you gave me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you you have shown,
But now it is time I traveled alone.
So grieve awhile for me, if grieve you must,
Then let your grief be conforted by trust,
It is only for a while that we must part,
So bless the memories within your heart,
I will not be far away, for life goes on,
So if you need me, call and i will come.
Though you cannot see or touch me, I will be near.
And if you listen with your heart, you will hear
All my love around you soft and clear.
An then, when you must come this way alone,
I will greet you with a smile and say, "Welcome Home".