My Timber Story

2002-2011

Dog chapters At the age of 13 I discovered my love for furry friends when I learned how to move one board in our neighbor’s fence, allowing their two golden retrievers to enter our backyard. Life was never the same after that. My wonderful mother rewarded me reluctantly with my own golden retriever whom I named Magnum P.I. (it was the 80’s). In looking back now I realize it was just to avoid me getting into trouble with the neighbors … my life quickly became defined by my connections with dogs and animals in general. I have had so many loving loyal sweet naughty funny regal muddy silly smart precocious adorable doggos which for me have always been my version of kids. Each one of them unique and starkly different from one another. Big, small, short hair, long hair, never two the same. Somewhere along the way my “herd” involved some physical challenges, and I learned right away they knew how to overcome I just needed to keep up. I got the shot in life I dreamt of in working as a police officer in the K-9 unit. My working dog was amazing, and I knew then I would have done that job for free. I felt guilty getting paid. So many blessings, so many years of unconditional love and support. I have grown up with dogs. And now I’m starting to grow old with dogs. I have lost almost every dog with whom I shared my life to old age. That profound sense of loss the hole left in your chest is unbearable… but could you have missed that kind of love and connection just to avoid the loss? Well, that’s why this is titled dog chapters… because I am not someone a memoir will be written about. I am someone who, if I wrote a book, would be mostly about all the dogs in my life and an occasional human who made the cut. Dogs define me. They teach me. They wait for me to catch up. I couldn’t just write about 1 of my pals over the years they all shaped my outlook on life and my future. I have always wanted to pay tribute to each of my special pups but never knew where to look. Now this incredible site exists to honor your animal friends. To share stories and find others healing words. This is an incredible idea created by one of the most talented giant hearted humans I have ever known. I am so grateful to post my inner feelings of love for all my animal pals ~ Magnum, Rookie, Chance, Koho, Timber, Scout and of course my old lady pup Carly. Thank you for creating this space for us to share our happiness and our loss with one another to keep our animals alive in our hearts forever ~ Michelle Rafferty