Ethel Buhler

Our home was missing someone - we were in need of a furry family member. After a few weeks of searching rescue shelters I finally found our new friend, Ethel! When I saw her for the first time I knew she was the one - it's that intangible quality, but I knew she was coming home with me. The ladies at the shelter said she was sweet. I was pleased that she was just the size we were hoping for. After the required paper work was complete I scooped up my 16 lbs, "cockeranian" (the bread we 'created' with the help of a friend) and brought her home. School was over and I took my two, young daughters out to our garage to see the surprise I had brought home. Everyone was excited and happy! The fall day was beautiful so we spent some time out in the yard in the sunshine getting to know each other. Once the girls were in bed, my new friend and I settled onto the couch to relax for awhile. My husband came home late that evening and was not welcomed. Ethel was now my protector and this man had disturbed her new home and she let him know it. The animosity between them quickly dissipated and they became best friends. Ethel's purpose in our family was to be cute and entertaining. She was that! She loved to chase tennis balls, but all she did was chase them. She would tear across the yard to get the one we'd thrown then she'd lay down with it. With the ball in her mouth she'd bark at us to come and play some more. She had a good buddy across the street for a couple of years - the two of them would romp and play in the yards. After her friend moved away she would still perk up if we mentioned his name. Our daughters created a game where they would trot along behind Ethel, side by side, and just follow her around our cul-de-sac while Ethel sniffed and wandered. The three of them enjoyed this for a minute or two, but then Ethel would turn around and let them know they were disturbing her. This made the girls laugh and they would continue on, giggling, until Ethel decided she needed to come to her "daddy" to be rescued. If you happened to be on the phone when someone came to our door the conversation required a pause; Ethel's bark was so loud and piercing you could not talk above it. In her zeal to protect us from all enemies of any size or species she sustained a few war wounds. This only tamed her mildly in her prime. As she aged, she was still keen to any threat to her family, but her enthusiasm to act upon the foe was limited to a glaring stare and maybe a deep growl. As she began her 14th year her eye sight continued to diminish, her hearing was far from keen which was a benefit when the door bell rang and for her sleep, and her face had more white then previous years - it made our hearts sad to see her age. Just shy of her 15th birthday we said good bye to our dear friend and companion.