Saying Farewell To A Beloved Lifeguard Dog

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Courtesy photo

Sir Luc

By SUSAN DROMEY HEETER, InDepthNH.org

Sir Luc has retired from his perch, from his throne, from his spire.  Our 14-year-old took his final breath yesterday, surrounded by his family, his loves, his charges.

Luc came to us in 2006 or 2007; we’ve never been clear on his age, his arrival, his birthday. But he was here and served our little family well. A mutt at heart, he had some border collie in his DNA and ran around our pool, circling swimmers like sheep, jumping over the diving board in an effort to keep his charges together, herded, safe.

And Luc kept us together to the end. Last night, my two daughters, my husband and I took Luc for his last breath, his last round up.  

It’s sad to lose a dog, we sobbed and hugged and feel depleted without our Luc, our guy, our man.  

A good dog is precious, particularly one who has been with you for a long, long time.  Many of you Joyful Musers know the love of a dog, there is nothing like returning from a trip, whether it be to the grocery store or California, that dog is so excited you’ve returned.  “You’re back!” they seem to say, entirely thrilled with the simplicity of life. The same food every night, the lukewarm water, it’s all simply perfect, enough, fantastic.

And Sir Luc will be missed, he leaves his family as well as his brother, Tucker, who lives with my sister, brother-in-law, and nieces. We called Tucker his “brousin” – both cousin and brother. 

Good dogs bring deep grief. I muse joyfully you’ll celebrate the loves in your life today, canine, feline, human.  

Stay well, musers, stay in your herd and when the ice melts, know Luc the Lifeguard, Sir Luc, has your back.
Susan Dromey Heeter is a writer from Dover who recently let her hair go au natural white. Writing has been her passion since her English majoring days at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.  Dromey Heeter has lived in The Netherlands, Alaska and currently basks in all things New England, including the frigid winters. An avid swimmer, Dromey Heeter’s great passion is to bring back body surfing as most children have no idea how to ride waves without ridiculous boogie boards.

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