Somewhere in the middle of the night of March 14, our dear friend, Rosie peacefully left as she slept. I couldn’t have loved this precious, old yellow lab more if she were my own! Rosie lived a few blocks from me and became a very special part of my life as she had become to countless others. You see, sweet Rosie was a community dog who wandered from the early morning through the day on her rounds for several blocks touching lives. What a rare and wonderful privilege in knowing this gentle creature whom I never once heard bark, now that I think of it.

It’s been a few days now, but I am still looking out the front door as I leave the house in the morning expecting to see her there in the walkway or in my rearview mirror as I back out of the garage where she would surprise me out of nowhere to have me go back into the garage and get her a couple of treats from the old can they were stored in. She was the sweetest, gentlest dog I’ve ever seen in all my long life.

Over eight years ago, I was out in my front yard and there was Rosie. She let me talk to her awhile and then shyly backed away when I got too close. After a couple more encounters, I bought a box of treats and made a friend. It took a couple of years before she would let me pat her head as she gently took the treat from my hand. I will miss how she would see me driving my old pick-up and run to follow me down the road home so I could get some treats. Just as much, I will sorely miss mowing my front yard or pruning, etc. and Rosie would hang out for hours finding a comfortable spot where I would retrieve some biscuits for her. She had me trained well.

Rosie made her rounds dispensing good-will for 12 years. I always worried about her crossing the busy road alongside our property heading home and for the last couple of years (as the ol’ girl started slowing up) I started to grab a fistful of treats and walk her home. Last month, she actually let me pick her up and give her a ride in the truck bed. The last time I saw Rosie was a few days ago and she saw my truck, slowly stood up and walked a couple of steps as I passed. She stared as I waved and hollered her name and watched as I went around the bend. Sure wish I would have stopped to give her one last hug around the neck …

For all of us, Rosie chose to befriend, we were tremendously blessed. Perhaps you didn’t know her, but saw her pass through the neighborhood over the years and wondered who she belonged to. She had a very loving family who I am so thankful for sharing this gift from God with me.

Bruce Hamphton

Marysville