Helping Pop-Pop with his landscaping

by Jannette
(Silver Springs, Florida)

I grew up in a family that bred and raised German Shepherds. I was always an avid animal lover, as were my parents. I got my Rottie "Bubba" when he was 4wks old due to a large litter and his mother not being able to produce enough milk.

When "Bubba" was 4yrs old we moved to Florida and my dad had to keep "Bubba" for me for a few weeks until I was able to get a place of my own.

My dad was a care-taker at the time for a very large piece of property and the owner decided that he wanted "mums" (flowers) planted on both sides of his driveway. The entire length of the driveway took up 10 acres of the property.

Now, imagine the heat in Florida, and having to plant all these flowers, each a foot apart the entire length of this long driveway on both sides. My dad took "Bubba" (my Rottie) outside with him while he was planting.

"Bubba" stayed close to his Pop-Pop the whole time. My dad thought "Wow, what a good dog, he stays right with you without a leash". After he finally got done planting all of these flowers up and down both sides of the driveway, he looks back to see what they look like. . .

It seems while he planted all of the flowers, "Bubba" was pulling them all up and setting them next to the holes my poor dad worked all day planting. But, even my dad had to laugh at the fact that "Bubba" wanted to help.

I had "Bubba" with me for 13 & 1/2 yrs before he passed away, which devastated my entire family. I couldn't even leave my home after he passed away because the pain of coming home without him there to greet me was too hard to bare.

Now it's over a year later, and I still sleep with his ashes next to me every night, just to keep him close.

Two of my daughters and I have several "Bubba" stories that we tell my youngest daughter, now 3yrs old (I have 3 girls), She still picks up "Bubba's" picture and asks where he is.