Pastimes
Saphire a male has just passed away in my arms 3 months short of 18 years old. He was absolutely the most beautiful, smartest, warmest, service dog for my wife's disabilities one could ever hope for. He was born 3 months before we were married and took possession of him just 1-month-old. He was trained to detect early signs of breathing attack/asthma issues, seizures, reminder meds, which he could recognize Saphire would signal to us if any of these conditions were coming on prior to my wife realizing it. He was amazing also for reassurance, comfort and would be protective if he had to be but never ever aggressive. He tended to be on the lazy side but that was trained in him to sit lay quietly. He only barked when people came to the door long before they reached the door as he was perceptive. When not working he knew 14 tricks such as talking, he could count, refuse to eat tricks on poison command, roll over, play dead, sit, stand, heel, even answer who is the best baseball player in the world...barking saying Babe Ruth. Traveled Jet sitting on the floor or in the car without making a peep logging more air miles than most people. He loved the beach with him, mom, fishing with dad and absolutely to smell things his favorite past time when not working. He loved walking in towns like Bay City, Frankenmuth Traverse City MI and the Florida Gulf Coast cities where we wintered. He loved Florida Winters. Saphire went into the finest places 5-star resorts hotels, hospitals, oceanfront homes, restaurants casino, stores you name it if a human could go there Saphire was there from Sanibel Island Boca Grand Florida to Grand Canyon to Vegas to Florida to the East coast. Saphire ate 1 meal per day at dinner and not dog food since he was a puppy. He ate meats: chicken, beef, steak, pork liver and tuna with mayo. He loved Arby's roast beef sandwiches no bread. He did like a little Italian bread with a little butter, little parts of PayDay bars, and Honey Oat health bars. He loved Jack Links Teriyaki he called Tweeties only Teriyaki jerky. He did not consume junk food, never eat food or pills on the floor. He never ever was destructive as a puppy to an adult and completely house trained within 2 weeks of being a puppy. He would hold going to the bathroom for 12 hours if he had to. If he ever had an accident would be due to illness he would make sure to go to the tile or marble floor, not the wood floor. He was attacked twice by untrained wild Pit Bull Bull Mastiff nearly killed Saphire I saved his life twice and choked the bull mastiff pit dogs out sending Saphire to the emergency hospital at great cost. He fell down the full flight of basement stairs at 16 playing with his G.F. rushed to ER but turned out to be OK. We home nursed him to the very end, not in pain he died in my arms after spending his last night in our bed, as he did for 17.9 years. I think the Caviler King Charles was the most gentle smart side of Saphire. We got his exact DNA which was 50%-50% to his great grandparents because we just had to know. This is the best mix of a dog breed I would ever think of especially for a Service dog dealing with these health issues and would want one again just like Saphire. We paid a ridiculous $50 for him, you divide the cost by 17.9 years do you see value? We would not have traded him for millions of dollars the answer would have been no. He was our faithful Service Dog, pet and child all in I one. I hope you can appreciate our loss at this beautiful gift from God.
5 years, 7 months ago