Up Front

Goodbye to Sam

For all of us who are or have been pet owners, we know firsthand how easily our pets become part of the family. I’ve grown up with dogs and just recently had to say goodbye to our 15-year-old black lab, Sam. Sam was so smart and certainly acted much more like a human than a dog, much more so than any dog we’d had before. From wearing seatbelts in cars to performing trust falls to show us how much faith she had in us, she was amazing. As a puppy, she could outsmart our German shepherd and was even able to steal a portion of the shepherd’s food!
     Sam had been coming in to work at our office for the past 12 years and headed up our stress management relief team. She did a great job! She also trained her young apprentice, a yellow lab named Sunny. When we first brought Sam home, I had just completed high school. I’ve now been married for five years with two beautiful children, and I feel so blessed to have been able to enjoy Sam for so many years.
     Being a pet owner certainly can be a great experience, and much like when we have to say goodbye to a loved one, it is sad to say goodbye to your pet. Sam was a great dog, and she brought smiles to people of all ages. I’ll forever be grateful for how great she was to all of us.