Lupine was a timid yellow dog when I adopted her from the shelter in Bend, Oregon. She was quite reserved at first and very overweight. She was frightened of strangers and she did not even wag her tail for a year and half! She gradually came out of her shell with the help of making new dog friends, traveling a lot and spending long days cruising around in the mountains. Lupine became a very confident mountain traveler and was a loyal companion who could be trusted to patiently wait at that base of a rock climb for up to 12 hours. She was gentle, smart and so very independent. When camping in the mountains, she preferred to keep watch all night, laying by the tent, her front feet crossed in typical “Lu-Dog” fashion.
Lupine was “the perfect dog.” She was a gentle soul, sweet to dogs, cats, even kids. She never needed to be on a leash. She never complained during our long mountain days. She could be trusted to always stay nearby. She knew how to have fun and how to avoid conflict with other dogs. And if she loved you, she would give you a “drive-by,” a lick on the leg as she strode by.
It was quite an incredible experience seeing such a timid, fearful soul blossom into a gregarious, confident happy one. Along the way we became forever bonded in a way I expect will never happen again. As much as I love all the other pets that have come into my life, Lu-Dog will always be my special girl who stood by me through many trying times and followed me endlessly through the mountains.
Lupine passed away in the spring of 2012 after battling cancer. When she was diagnosed, her oncologist estimated that she had only a handful of weeks or 1-2 months to live at the most. She went on to live 10 great months! In the end, I was glad that I knew the end was coming because I made a special effort to carve out special “Lupine time.” We went on Sunday walks down by the river, just me, Lupine and Steve. She got entire slices of pizza every Friday night too! We took her on her final climbing trip to Penitente canyon over Thanksgiving, 2011. Lupine was my special dog, the one that snuck so deep into my heart that even after 3 years I still get teary writing about her.
