Our little dog Starsky died unexpectedly. We will surely surely miss this little guy.
Brad and I decided we wanted a dog about a year after we were married. One day we went to a little pet shop and this adorable dog named Murphy met us at the door. He looked like Starsky. From that moment we knew we wanted a Boston Terrier. So we started checking the newspaper and finally the stars aligned and we found someone who had 2 boston terrier pups for sale. The guy brought a girl and boy dog to my parents house where we were living at the time and "tested" us out with the dogs. First we held the girl and she was kind of hyper and then we held Starsky and he just cuddled right up to me. The man was really pressing that we buy the girl but we fell in love with Starsky from the beginning. For a couple of days we called the guy and he decided he wasn't going to sell the dogs. We were heartbroken. But then shortly after he called us and decided that we could have the dog but he wanted us to take the girl and we told him we really wanted the boy dog. So eventually, we met him at a neutral location and he told us we "fit" the personality for owners of his boston terrier dogs. We both recall him telling us he would call us shortly for a reunion with all the dogs. Weird. So Starsky came home to our family. Brad, Starsky, and me. As we had kids my lap just got bigger for a baby AND Starsky and then 2 babies and Starsky. He will move himself right into the center of whatever we are doing and I'm certain he thought he was a person.
Brad worked nights and I worked days so Brad pretty much trained the dog. He did good from the get go and was just a cuddle dog with big eyes and big pointy ears.
From the beginning Starsky had a soft spot for me. He always laid right behind my knees and everytime Brad left in the morning he jumped up and laid right next to me. He knew just where to lay to be snuggled and stroked. He'd follow me everywhere (to the bathroom where he'd wait on the carpet) and today Brad commented that I don't have my "shadow" anymore.
He let us pet him and play with him and run with him.
Brad took him on overnight backpacking trips to the Uintahs.
One time we camped and as we were settling in for the night, I heard a pee sound and Brad say, "oh man." Starsky had whizzed all over his sleeping bag...the entrance to his sleeping bag right where his head should go. Starsky new where to run and always did...right to me. He slept in my bag with me that night and kept me cozy warm.
We enrolled Starsky in a dog trick school. He would run those dog obstacle courses so fast and he was so agile. The instructor told us we should consider getting private lessons and entering him in contests. He was a pretty fast trickster.
Above all else, Starsky has been with us for every move, every house rental, every night I had to go to sleep alone because of medical school, every long trip back and forth to Utah. Chloe tells people we have 3 kids. Chloe, Ezra, and Starsky.
When the kids are in bed for the night it's me and Starsky and reality tv. He was the man of the house while Brad lived in Cincinnati and Seattle for 2 months last summer.
Whenever we'd take him for walks people would always comment about what a goodlooking dog he was. We lucked out with all our moves and trips back to Utah with people who would care for our dog for free. We only kenneled him once and we found that he has depression. He just loves us so and does not love being cages in a kennel. Brad picked him up and they had him in a diaper. A diaper! Brad said it was pretty embarassing picking your dog up and seeing him in a diaper. So after that we always had neighbors who loved starsky like their own for weeks on end.
He was a free spirit who introduced us to what "fleas" are and gave me a quick introduction to the courts/legal syster of Kirksville, Missouri.
Once he ate a package off of someone's porch and when I went to return the eaten goods I found it was a house full of college students and they didn't mind a bit. He said his mom sent him stuff all the time and he was glad the dog enjoyed it.
Part of our trips back to utah always include the awesome dog park at Tanner Park, planning hikes up Millcreek (which is dog friendly) and hiking Ensign peak.
He would bark when people came over and demanded attention whenever me and Brad were together for a few minutes talking.
He was a perfect companion and friend and we will forever miss the little guy.
Chloe will miss feeding him and getting him dog toys and using his new dog bowl. After he died Chloe said, "it's okay. He'll be resurrected like grandpa and atleast you still have me and Ezra."
Ezra will miss feeding him all his table food.
Brad will miss his late night walks and waiting for him to go to the bathroom each night.
Luckily, our sister in law and brother in law are in town and they are making the transition a little bit better. Tuesday morning, when Brad goes to work and it's just us at home, i'll be listening for his little footsteps and probably tap the bed once and hope to see him soar on top of me and put his head right under my arm and wait to be snuggled.
STARSKY CHAMBERS 2006-2011
We've been riding bikes and EZ loves to push his cart around. We finally found the piece to our bike trailer and had such a fun time riding bikes as a family with EZ in the trailer. It won't be long before he rides a bike. (He went to the bathroom on the toilet today!! well, near the toilet...i wasn't patient to wait for him and shut the lid and then he had to go and went right in front of the toilet. So, that counts right?)
B-rad celebrated a birthday a little while ago. We sure love him and I am sooooo lucky to be married to him and the kids to have him as their dad.
EZ loves to have his "blank" on his head. I love it.
She could be dancing all day. Just bought her first ballet shoes and taps are on the way.
Such a handsome little dude.
These two are the sweetest together. She loves having someone to "lead" around. And he loves to be "led". They play and play and play and then ask me to play some more.
Chambers family is happy and good. Hope you all are too.
