Story

Smitty was rescue as a one year old from the Kingston Humane Society, in 1993. He was brought in as a stray and he was afraid of everything. From the moment I laid eyes on him, I knew he had to be mine.

Smitty had been put in the cat room where there was less noise. He had a sign on his cage that read Please Take me Outside, I won't Pee in my Cage. I was going to school at the time for Veterinary Technology and I spent 8 hours a week at the Humane society. I asked if Smitty could be mine, once his 5 day wait was up. 5 days later I took my angel home.

Once home, we realized what an aweful life Smitty had led up to this point. The cigarette burns down his neck were a reminder of what some people are capable of. Smitty would leave the room if my father or brother entered and ran if someone moved to fast. He didn't know how to play and we wondered if he knew how to bark.

After months of trying, we finally got Smitty to play. His favorite game was "get the hand" where you would tap his foot with your hand and he would roll his head onto your hand and grab it. We moved from this on to balls and toys. After 2 years, Smitty would finally sit on a chair with my brother and father. He was really coming along.

That is when I got Shadow, a border collie x belgian. Smitty ahd her became fast friends and Shadow helped show Smitty the better things in life. Digging in the garden, chewing socks and underwear and lounging on the clean laundry soon became their favorite games. Wherever you found Shadow, Smitty was not far behind.

When Smitty turned 5, we enrolled him in agility classes. Shadow loved it so why not Smitty? Well, Smitty took to agility like fish to water. He jumped and tunnelled and teetered all the way to Ottawa for Canine Cup for the last 2 summers. He did agility with his usual charm and entertained the audience by disobeying commands to get the crowd laughing. He was always a clown.
June 17, 2001 was Smitty's last agility competition. He had lost a little bit of weight, so he went to the vet for a check up on June 19. That is when they found the tumour. Smitty saw an internal specialist on June 26 and I received the devastating news that my angel may not make it through the week.

It was on a sunny June 30, that my boy crossed the bridge, surrounded by his family and in the arms of the one who loved him most. He is greatly missed and always remembered. Smitty is a lesson that forgiveness is in everyone. For a tiny little guy to give so much love after receiving such hate in his first year should be a lesson to all of us. Smitty you are a hero!

Never take the little things for granted. You never know when that will be the last lick on your cheek or the last ball you throw.