ROMMEL'S LIFE

Rommel was taken into our GSP Rescue in September 2000. His family was moving and Rommel no longer fit into their lifestyle. He was about 14 years old. Rommel was found on a backroad in Eastern Colorado during bird season in 1993. He was malnourished and had a broken leg. The Sheriff's Deputy who found him took him to a local vet. Rommel was treated for his injuries and for malnourishment. The vet thought that Rommel was at least seven years old at that time. After 7 weeks of trying to locate his owners, the decision was made to put poor Rommel to sleep. The receptionist at the office decided to adopt Rommel and took him home. Rommel spent the next seven years with this family helping to raise their two young daughters. The girls loved Rommel and were devastated the day their dear friend went to rescue. They wrapped their arms around him and laid on the floor with him until it was time to go. Many tears were shed and it took Rom a while to adapt to missing his girls. He adored children! He came to our Rescue where he instantly became a part of our family. Rommel has gone hunting each year and must have been a superb hunter in his time. He helped to train a couple of our younger dogs. Rommel was best dog- buddies with Jake, Augie and Cosmo. Each night they got onto their doggie beds in front of the woodstove in the den. Rommel has been on thyroid medication and arthritis treatment since he arrived here. Daytimes were spent napping on the porch with his kitty friends...he will be especially missed by the kitties, Boogie, Sammie, Zack, Chubs and most of all Minnie...who thought that the sun rose and set on Uncle Rom. The last couple of months have been hard for poor old Rommel with his back and legs starting to give out. It was devastating to see such a vital spirit with a body that no longer wanted to cooperate. Rommel's three years with us were extremely happy for him. His daily routine was to guard the front porch and to help feed the horses. He went for daily swims and ran each afternoon with Jake and Augie. All the kitties thought that he was Uncle Rommel. If he thought no one was watching, he'd lay on his back and let the cats climb all over him. He'd get embarrassed if he got caught frolicking with the kitties. Anytime that he was sleeping on the porch he was literally covered with cats! He enriched our lives, the lives of our other dogs and the cat's lives, also. Rommel's original name was Jake. When our Jake came to rescue, Rommel came running and smiling everytime we called "Jake". In the last year, I've called him Rom-Jake...he thought that was really cool! Rommel's ashes are on the mantle in the den along with Ben, Jessie, Heidi, Baileys' memory and Sadie-Anne-Sally-Sue. He was the kind of companion that everyone should have at least once in their lives.