The first glimpse I had of Rex was in my dream. I had thought I was looking for a small dog, maybe Poodle or Chukchi size. When I woke, I thought, “Interesting dream….ok…..” Then, I went on with my daily life. I continued looking for that “little size dog”.  I couldn’t find the size of dog I wanted though I searched. Finally, I went to the Dog Pound. In the first cage was the dog that had been in my dreams. Rex was a liver and white Springer Spaniel with unchopped tail. He had to stay overnight but I looked in his eyes and promised him I’d be back for him. He seemed to understand.

There are not enough words in the human vocabulary to describe Rex’s “common” splendor. He was not hyperactive, like so many of his breed. In fact, he was the most laid back creation I’ve ever known. That is, all except his tail. It worked overtime. When  he was awake that tail was going. I have a picture of him in AK in which you can see that even in a still picture, his tail is wagging. He loved AK, running through the wilderness. I tried to control him which was fairly easy. However, a few times he would run wild and free always keeping me in site. He met the vicious sled dogs there who had reputations for being cruel to other animals. Not one offered to hurt Rex. He loved everyone and everything. He had an unequaled zeal to life. When he was outside, he’d look on the ground and see, “Moon Shadows” and dance with them. He was one continuously happy dog.  I called him my “clown dog” because he was always making me laugh. He even pulled a small toboggan type sled for me that I’d put a few groceries on. He loved it. He traveled with me whether it was by boat or plane from Arizona to Alaska to Tennessee to Wisconsin. I had met a friend who had a Dachshund that was so friendly I decided I wanted one. Finally, I found my little Red Dachshund. She came off an Arizona Native Reservation.  Heidi Red Desert Lady was a tiny little thing. She curled up on Rex instantly. That’s where she always slept He was her Guardian. When they went to the dog park, in Madison, Heidi would protect Rex but Rex always kept an eye on her too. He loved the dog park where he could run to his heart’s content. He loved all the other dogs and people.    At one point a friend of mine who had never seen Rex or really heard much about him said, “Your dog is an Angel who was sent to you.” That was easy to believe. When my back was injured due to my nursing career, I had some procedures done that kept me in bed. Rex never left my side except to go outside for a few brief moments. Both Rex and Heidi laid by me and watched me closely. I had a dog walker come over and take them out since I knew for a day I would not be able to.  I loved Rex as much as I could have loved a two legged child. Then, one day, my beautiful boy got so he could barely walk. Because of my back, I couldn’t carry him. He walked very slowly and we made it to the car.  I then rushed him to the Vet. They worked with him. They remarked, “He is such a GREAT dog. No matter what we do to him, even if it hurts, he wags his tail. He never growls, just wags his tail.” He had kidney failure and Addison’s……There was no saving Rex on this Earth. I promised to be strong for the sweet dog who had given me so much strength. I held him tight and asked him if he was ready to “go out of his body”. I promised him I’d be ok. I held him when they gave him the shot that would stop his Giant’s heart.  The Vet warned me he might have a seizure. I didn’t care. I was going to be there for my Rexie. When it was over and I went home, I told Heidi. She laid her head against my chest and didn’t move for hours, very out of character for her at the time. Now my Heidi is almost twelve. She’s had an interesting life story all of her own. I will relate that per request. Right now, I want to give Rex credence. The one major thing I learned from my Rexie is that if I can live my life half as good as he did his, I will really have accomplished something.

Thanks for letting me share his story with you. Long may Rexie’s Spirit live on. I know he’s watching me, keeping an eye on me just like he did when he was running. Only now, his body doesn’t hurt anymore. He’s free and waiting for me at “Rainbow Bridge”

— Iris from Urbandale, IA