In Memoriam * Eden Anne * 1/1/9X - 10/27/07

Eden was the best dog you could ever have. I know it’s a biased thing to say coming from her father, however, anyone who would meet Eden would comment on how sweet, how pretty, how gentle, and what an incredible dog she was.

Eden was one of many foster dogs that came in and out of our home. When we got a chance to meet her, Eden was probably 6 or 7 maybe even eight years old. She was a little afraid, would get easily startled or excited and “make a mistake” on the floor. Over a short period of time, Eden gained trust in us, and stop peeing here or there.

As we got to know her, and her know us, our love for her grew stronger. We drove down to the gulf coast with some friends and took our dogs, and Eden and Karma had an absolute blast running and playing in the waves. I’ll never forget the morning when we were walking on the beach at sunrise, the dogs having the time of their lives, and Marla told/asked: “If it’s OK with you, I’d like to adopt Eden for ourselves” I was all for it and was happy to hear that she wanted to keep her too, as I’d grew very fond of the pup, but didn’t want to get too attached to the dog as it was a foster. Immediately upon deciding to adopt her, not only did our attitudes to her change, but it was as if she understood why we were calling and hugging and petting her. From that day on, we would experience owning the best dog to ever walk this earth. She was easily the best dog one could ever own, truly a “once in a lifetime” dog you hope to be lucky enough to get to own.

Eden quickly got nicknames. Marla decided Eden also had a middle name: Anne. Eden Anne loved her name. Calling her now got so much more fun. Eeeeeedeeen!!! Eden A-annne!!! Neeenanne! Edenanners!! Edenanners chicken planners!! Ninanne-niiiinaaaanne!!!! And the list of ways to call her ever so grew. Eden, would respond to all of them, and would run to you, and lovingly sit or stand, or push her head up on you so you would pet her or simply touch her.

The human touch was what she was all about, enjoying every possible chance of getting a petting, a scratch, or a giant hug. However, pleasing her owner was her goal in life.

She was the absolute sweetest most loving friend that would sacrifice what she was doing so she could bring you happiness.

I taught her “Where’s ________?” As long as she knew the name of the person or dog she was looking for she’d go look for them. I’d get on Marla’s nerves from time to time with my: “Where’s Marla?! Go get Marla!” games, but how could you not play it, when, ears up!, Eden would focus right at you and give 100% of her attention to you. I would say, "Where’s Marla? Go get Marla!" and Eden would take off like lightning out the room to find her mom. When she’d find her, she’d run up, sometimes pop her front legs on Marla’s waist, or pop her nose under her arm, so happy to report “I found you, Mom!!”. Then she’d run back to me to report the good news. I’d send her off again, (Uh oh!), and again, and again.

Nanners and her brother could have just spotted a deer and taken off running; if it wasn’t the place for them to take off, you could yell out her name right away, and she would much prefer to turn around and be petted for being a good girl than continue the chase. That’s not to say she didn’t get her shares of chases in. She was a fast dog, damn she was fast. Poor Karma would get left in her dust as she chased deer or the rabbits they would spot. Eventually, sometimes 3 to 4 minutes later. They would then return, tired as can be, usually Eden well before Karma. If you crouched down to her level, she would run all the way up and curl up in your arms to show you she loved you the most. If Karma wasn’t coming back, or if he wouldn’t’ get going, you could simply tell her “Nanners! Go get Karma!!” and her ears would perk up, she’d look to where he was, or where she came back from, and sprint to find him to bring him back. He wasn’t ever lost, but she magically got him to get his ass back to base camp. Good girl Neenanne!

On trail runs (or walks) she would at first run and chase things with her brother. Once she had warmed up (read that: tired a bit), she would settle in behind and run along right behind you. I’ll never forget the many trail runs her and Karma enjoyed. They both had exponential energy when together on those trails sniffing, seeking, chasing, following each other looking for something to chase to sniff. It’s as if the two had ESP, and one would sometimes outflank the chased thing so they could have a better chance at catching it. And if you’d ever trip and fall, Eden would be there in no time, to stand above you, legs on either side of you, to make sure you were protected and fine. On their countless wildlife chases, they never did catch anything, not that they wanted to as they were all about the chase. At least Eden was - she just wanted to have fun.

Case in point, take her to the dog park, and all she wanted to do, was chase the dogs that were chasing the ball. She would BARK! BARK! BARK! To let the other dogs know she was having a blast as the dogs chased their ball. But she could fetch too. Marla taught her to fetch and she quickly became an awesome fetch dog. Launch a Frisbee, a ball, or even some silly toy indoors, and she chase it down and return it to you so she could get a loving pet and confirmation that she was doing the right thing.

When walking on the sidewalk, Eden could commonly be found, walking right on the 6 inch edge of the sidewalk, like a balance bean gymnast. She would easily walk that line for however long she wanted! That agility and her willingness to jump up on anything you asked her to, led Marla to try her out at Agility contests. Marla took her to 3 or 4 classes, and although Eden seemed to be doing well, Marla could tell that Eden wasn’t thrilled about it, and she decided that Eden’s agility training could continue in the wild instead.

Eden was the best road trip dog you could ever want. On long drives out to San Angelo, she would just lie down and take a nap. Many times she’d want to be part of the family in the front seats, and so she’d inch up under the fence that stop the pups from getting up front. She’d inch her head well under it, just to she could touch and arm. We’d say, "Eden, get back" and she’d comply, but then she’d inch her way back a little, just so she could be close. How could you say no a second time?! All she wanted to do, was love you. So we’d let her rest her head on your arm, or on the armrest and watch us. If the car was full of stuff, as it often was on the return trip, she’d gladly lie on a blanket on top of the bags. She’d figure out a way to get comfortable, and lie on top enjoying life!

When I’d take her with me down to the local store, I’d let her sit on the seat next to me. She’d jump in quick through the driver side door, and spin around quickly curling up in a ball on the passenger seat so her head could lay on your arm on the arm rest in the middle. Take your arm off the armrest, and she’d inch up, juuuust enough so the tip of her chin was touching you somewhere.

And that look, that two-paint face would just look at you, and say: "I’m here, and I love you", every single time you looked at her. She could be playing and be called, or just woken up from a nap and come over to say hello. In any case, she’d come sit, look up at you, and just let you know she loved you for being you.
Her naps were the best. She’d lie there, curled up, or most commonly on her side, but then, she’d wiggle up, on to her back and lie sprawled up on her back. She LOVED those sleep sessions on her back. It was priceless!

Eden was so loving and selfless that Marla took her get tested to be a Pet Pal Therapy dog. In Pet pal therapy, you take a dog to an old folks home, so they can get some animal love. The test is pretty rigorous as the dog must not react or be scared of wheelchairs, suddenly falling crutches, and other weird medical devices on wheels that may come her way. Eden passed with flying colors, and Marla took her to bring smiles to grandparents with Alzheimer’s, or other ailments etc. Eden was the perfect dog, just sitting there, letting them pet her and bring them happiness. That was Eden’s role on earth after all: To selflessly be there and bring love and joy to whomever wanted it – any day, any time, regardless what she could have been doing.

And we talked. Boy did Eden and I talk. When she’d get a rawhide or a ball, she’d prance around with happily, but she also had to be weary of bully brother Karma coming and snagging her from her, so she would do her silly growl. Rowrrowrroooowr! So one day, as she looked at me as she “rowr’d” to let it be known: “Hey pal! Hit the bricks! This is mine. You got your own!” I playfully growled back at her, and so began our talks. She would get a rawhide, and growl, and I’d growl and she’d look at me, and prance over, foxtail-a-waggin’ and growl. She’d mimic the length of my silly growl, or I’d mimic hers. In any case, we’d just sit a foot from each other’s head, “rowr rowr rooooooooowr’ing” at each other as her tail wagged. She loved it, and of course so did I! Did a nightly rawhide session without a rowr chat go by? I doubt it!

Eden also took a liking to a quick swim in the creek; she highly enjoyed a fun walk in the park, and always welcomed a chance for a cooling swim. She wasn’t one of those, launch yourself in the water, or splish splash around dogs, but more of a “I looove to get in and swim and get out” dog. She mostly liked it just to cool off. The last time I got to enjoy this, I ran the greenbelt with the two of them. She was hot, and we came up to a little creek which both dogs went into, to cool off their legs and drink up. Eden found a little puddle-pool of flowing water, just under a mini- 9 inch waterfall, and just plopped herself down to enjoy the water. The picture doesn’t exist anywhere but lodged in my mind, and what a picture-perfect moment it was!

Eden was one of those dogs for which leashes were useless. Why put a leach on the Nanners? Well, because there are leash laws here and there, but she didn’t need it, and we all knew it, but she accepted that she had to have a leash on. She’d still walk right there, the leash hanging down as she walked along next to you.

Eden, Karma and I invented another one of many games. In the mornings, when I was dog sitting her, as I got ready for work, if I was close to the bed, they would both pop their front legs up on the bed and look at me. Oh yeah! Time for the “Stretchy-scratchy”. They stretch up there, displaying their long backs. I’d get in between the two, and start scratching. From the very top of their neck, down to the tails. Up and down, scratch scratch. The stretchy stretchy scratchy! Quickly, I was able to on command just say “stretchy scratchy!?”, and they’d both pop on up, smiling and ready for a good scratch. Then, when I was done, Karma would plop back down and tail would wag, but Eden would thank me. Full of energy, she’d spin and come to me, and pop her front legs up on me. THANKS DAD!!! And of course, she’d get an extra “You’re Welcome” scratch and pet!

In the mornings, when it was time to get up, but only when it was time, not when she decided it was time, she’d run over the side I sleep on, pop her front legs up there and show her cute face at me. I’d give her some petting, followed by a nice hug, where she’s stick her head and long nose right up under me, to maximize the hugging.

At night, she would also come and jump up to say goodnight. It was routine. I’d turn the light off, get in to bed, and she’d time her jump perfectly to where I was barely in, under the blankets as she popped up to get her goodnight hug and kiss. She’d look at me so cute, so thankful, so loving. I’d give her a good hug and wish her good night, and she’d then jump down and lie down to sleep.

Marla told me recently after her diagnosis that she would gladly have given up some of her years of life to give Eden more, something I would second. She was that kind of dog.

Eden’s favorite place on earth (other than just being next to you) was running by your side on the town lake trail. She put in hundreds of miles on there, and soon, on the town lake trail, her ashes will be set free. She will be there for eternity to join everyone on their runs. Right there, on the north side of the trail on the quiet side of I-35, she will be ready to go, waiting for you to pass by.

And, Eden, we know you will be there, sitting patiently, waiting for us to eventually join you on the other side. Waiting for the day when we can run again, “rowr” again, play again, pet you again, but simply, and most of all, just have you sitting there again ready to show your unconditional love.

Thank you, Eden.

Thank you for the countless memories. You will never be forgotten.

Neeenaaannne!!!!!!



Click here to watch more candid videos of Eden in action.

To read Marla's memorial, please visit her Running Pawnter Blog.