Sammy was a rescue dog. In a small dilapidated house on the outskirts of some town in the state of Louisiana, a home owner in want of companionship had gathered and housed many a dog within the confines of several small rooms in her home. Sammy was one of forty dogs, was about five years old, and was in dire need of a real home. None of the dogs were fully cared for, groomed or loved. Sammy was skinny tangle of matted hair and muck. None of the dogs had a real place or bed to call their own. Sammy competed for resources, morsels of food, a drink of water, a place to rest. One day, Maria was reading online to find a new rescue to save and care for. She came across Sammy’s picture at the organization “Little Paws 4 U”. His little face and eyes, captured her heart. She called up and said she wanted him. The journey was afoot, and the organization sent a father and son team to retrieve him. He was five years old and going on his first road trip, traveling from Louisiana to Rhode Island to his new home. His breed was not fully known, but he appeared to have all of the personality traits of a Chihuahua-Yorkie mix. As the Doggappy website proclaims, these dogs are “small in size but big on fun”. He was a fun, and I affectionally nick named him “Bayou Boy.” Sammy had some other breeds mixed in as well and this unknown is what set him aside from all the rest. Something knowing shined from within, a little mystery of sorts, but a very kind one. When Sammy arrived at Maria’s house, the father and son brought him in to meet her. Maria would shower him with joy and love as if he were the only dog in the world and he immediately took to her voice and her touch. Having had, let’s just say a few four footed friends in her past, she knew how to welcome him. She brought him over to the couch which sat below a large picture window and sat him down on the seat cushion. His little black eyes looked up at her and his surroundings. It was quiet and calm here, he thought.wanting a better view, he climbed up onto the upper cushion where he would be able to look out the window and rest comfortably and settle in. He noticed the other dogs discussing his arrival and bickering a bit on where Sammy would sleep. He was dumbfounded at first, unable to fathom what had just happened after traveling for over a thousand miles to this really comfortable cushion by a window. He knew; however, something was very different now and the three other little dogs who were looking at him, studying him, would be his friends, especially the black and white one, Peter, Peter the Dog. It would take several weeks to acclimate to his new home and during that time, he would be fed and bathed and taken care of in the best way. He had a real family now, a place to live, a big back yard to play in, and companionship. He had a way about him, when you would come into the room. He would always acknowledge you and his eyes would inquire as to your purpose for being there. He would look at you as if to say, “I’m going to do my pretend I know nothing stare, but I really know what is going on here, and you really need to get me a snack for being a good boy, or start dinner for all of us.” Those eyes of his would also let us know that the world was really a good place and where each of us have struggles and pain and are sad, just take the time to love one another, and that petting him would solve everything. He lived a long life with Maria, and out lived several of her other furry little companions. He was not a barker, except when dinner was being prepared. Having come from a hoarding situation, we can only assume, that food was scarce and when bowls would be filled, there was great anticipation and competition for the nourishment. He somehow knew when meal time was approaching. He was fed in the morning and in the evening, so like a church bell, he would sound off a quick yip for the eminent gastric celebration. Once Maria started the food preparation, Sammy barked constantly until he was fed. In Maria’s home; however, each pup would have their own bowl set on the floor, prepared one at a time, with select ingredients for each one, smaller bites for some, and large bites for other’s. There would always be a cookie for dessert as well. In Sammy’s later years he had lost his teeth, so it was difficult for him to keep up with the other dogs who would eat faster than him. It would take him longer and the other dogs would try and take his food while he gummed his small bites. Maria solved this little skirmish by placing his bowl on a table setting on the couch, placematand all, with the TV on and the world at the window for his entertainment. He had a very good life. There are so many other stories to tell about him, but back to the one about him not being a barker. He would bark at meal time, and rightly so. If you were 1 of 40, all competing for food, you may also have resorted to barking trying to hold your ground and get a bite or two. He would also bark on one other occasion, when Maria was out. She would have to go out to shop and do those out of the house things that people do, and he could not always go with her, except to the groomer or the vet, the later of which was, well not on his bucket list, like ever! When she would leave, he might have been sleeping or sitting on the couch, or walking up to the watering bowl and would not think much about her being dressed and reaching for her purse and keys until she would announce that she was going out shopping or to the store or to visit Irene, or for coffee, or to church, or the post office, or to look for another dog. She would promise to be back and all was good in his world; until about 45 minutes later, when he would wander to the stairs, the top of which would lead down to the garage where her car was. He would sit and wait. Peter would come over soon after and sit and wait, as would another and another. There were often four dogs in the home at one time, and while four are not normally allowed without a special permit, one of the dogs would have to carry the “I’m just visiting from Louisiana Card” to keep under the radar of the local authorities. So at around the 48 minute mark from when Maria left, Sammy would break into song and would bark and bark and bark until she came home or until the man who would sometimes visit and be upstairs came down, to reason and talk and explain that she was coming back, and on occasion, give out snacks to hold them over or till her return. So while Sammy was not a barker, he did bark, but for good reason. He was a lovable little dog, bothered no one, and just wanted to be one of the gang, one of the pack, but not the top dog. He did; however, like the the top spot on the cushion that looks out the window on the world, so this was his best place to be. Sammy was a great little companion and entertainer. Maria would call him "the one trick pony”, because the only trick he did was to sit up on his back legs and put his hands out. This one trick brought him great favor and snacks and smiles for all who saw. He will be deeply missed. His memory lives on in all of us who had the opportunity to meet him. His presence in Maria’s home was joyful; He was not the leader of the pack nor was he low boy on the totem pole; He had a way about him with his little long toenails yielding to a tap-tap-tap gait showing up for food, for a hug, to perform (one trick pony) or to just chill on the hill (the couch) and look at the world go by. Sammy left us on October 14, 2022, he would have been 17 this December, which in dog years is over 100 years old. He lived a long time, in the loving care of his favorite person in all the world. Rumor has it that when he arrived at the "Big House", the "Big Dog", let him climb up on the “Big Couch”, and look out of his great window too. Peter, Peter the dog, was there too, climbed up with him, and like old times, sat next to each other, hip touching hip and looked out together. After a few minutes, Sammy asked about the others and Peter explained that everyone was doing well and that all of the Mellone dogs had their own place together. Sammy asked where everyone sleeps and Peter explained that this was the best part. Everyone has a Mellone lap to sleep on. Sammy thought for a moment about this, tears welled in his eyes. He was happy that everyone was together here and that heaven was as great a place as he was told it would be. He though a bit longer, and looked at Peter and said. “That is really nice Peter, but I think I’m going to wait for a special lap to arrive before I go to sleep here.” Peter looked at Sammy and smiled and said, “You and me both Sammy, but I was here first, so I get first dibs okay?” They both smiled and laughed and returned to looking out window. “Hey Peter! Is that Stuie?” “Yes Sammy, he is always walking around this place and the Big Dog calls it the “Stuie 500”. “That Stuie!, gotta love him.” Sammy was a great little companion as were all of Maria’s four footed friends. Our canine companions never live long enough it would seem, and are only here for a short time. While we do miss them, remember their love for life and for us and the joy they gave us each moment of everyday they were here, and most of all, that there will be snacks, treats and cookie after dinner. Woof!