Strong Like Bull

I'm so glad I took these pictures of Vic with Earl. This was taken March 2007. Vic was "strong like bull". At least as strong as a 15 year old Rottweiler can be. He was pretty feisty at this point and really only trusted Earl.


In the last few months, Vic hasn't even so much as growled if you get too close to his face. He's even let me hug him, which is totally out of character for this dog. In the last few days, he has gotten stuck in the ditches and crevices around the land and he's let Nate pick him up.... totally out of character for Vic. Nate lost a chunk of his cheek to Vic once when he bent down to love him. Vic has only ever trusted Earl, until the last few months. Vic was severely beaten as a pup by some very mean and brutal kids and he hasn't much cared for anyone to get too close to him since.


I feel I have earned his trust through all the care we've had to give him on several occasions of him being sick and Earl being in Utah taking care of Roy and Wahneta (brother and sister-in-law).

Today and the last two to three days Vic's been too weak to eat, drink or move. I hate this stage of life. Not many people like it, but they don't see it as often as I do.


So, because I don't want to remember this monster dog as weak and vulnerable, this is an ode to Vic, The Vic Meister, Mr Vickerman (he's not my dog, but all of our dogs have had multiple nicknames and he hasn't escaped a few from us too).


Vic was Earls only companion in cold Colorado and all the time Earl was building this house. Earl lived in a tent trailer at that time and later moved the tent trailer right into the house. Earl was 65 years old when he build this house himself.

Earl is still very strong for being nearly 80 years old. It's hard to see him age. He has a shake to his hands and his hearing is diminishing, but he is still as feisty as ever. Vic and Earl have a lot in common.


There weren't very many houses out here when Earl was building this house and Earl recounts the sounds of coyotes calling to each other at night. I think I'd have been scared of those sounds if I didn't have a big, mean dog to protect me. Vic was there for Earl.

(See him under my arm in this pic. He's sneaky)


There have been bears, deer and other wild life that don't come round as much now. I have seen some really beautiful deer, but no mountain lions or bears, though Veloy recounts seeing a bear outside her window when she was using her stationary bike.


My son and husband have both lost a piece of their face to this dog and if it had been me, I might not like the dog too much. But, I have understood why he's been the way he has due to his past. So I love and forgive him his foibles and hope he doesn't have to stay here on earth much longer.


I hope it won't be too long before he will be able to once again experience all the wonderful things he did as a young dog, running and sniffing about in a great open wooded area like he has known most of his life. I'd much rather think of him running and playing and being in nature than suffering as he is now.


I only wish his master were here to wish him on.


We will miss you greeting us with your head between our legs. We will miss your loud smacks when you're eating and drinking. We will just miss you.


We send you safe travels on your merry way and say hi to Soda for us, only..................... don't eat him.