Key.............R.I.P. A Tragic End For A Good Friend

We got back from Kemah, Texas Monday, (3/2/2009) but it is taking as much effort as I can muster to write this about our trip 2 days later. Maybe later there will be more, but not now.

We lost our beloved black lab Key. He was with us all the way to Alaska and back, performing his perceived responsibility of keeping loose cattle, hay bales, people, and of course other dogs, squirrels and other small animals from coming too close to his territory.

When we traded in the trailer for a motor home, he had a new task of that security and room to move around at the same time, not just restricted to the back of the Tahoe. In Houston, we took the Sam Houston Toll road around the city and along about middle of our loop around the city, our world changed for ever. We passed a field with a small herd of cattle in it an of course Key took up his usual post at the window next to the dinette and started his usual barking. Without turning around I yelled for him to settle down...every thing's OK.

At some point later, I turned look back and saw Juliet, our female Whippet, standing in the dinette seat with her head sticking out of the window. I also saw something (which turned out to be part of the screen frame) hanging loose.

I asked Linda to get her back out of the window. She jumped up and pulled Juliet off of the seat and then yelled "Key jumped out of the window" I said "What" and she said it again. All I remember saying was "NO, NO"

The window had been cracked about a couple of inches and some how he slide it open enough to get out. I guess he thought he would jump down and go after those cows he saw. The fact that we were going about 60 miles per hour left both of us with a sick feeling in the pit of our stomachs.

I got stopped as soon as I could. We were in the far right lane and it was about a 10' leap to clear the barrier where there was grass and a steep slope to the access road below. The problem was we didn't know exactly where we were when he went out. I could barely squeeze through the door opening (it was up against the barrier) but I was able to stand on top of the barrier but couldn't see him anywhere. We got started again, went to the next toll booth where we could back track for a search for him. I told the lady in the booth what happen and she said she would notify the toll road personnel to assist. We got turn around and went back far enough that we knew he was in the motor home and searched both on the toll road and the access road but could not see any trace of him. We spent over an hour getting on and off the toll road looking for him ...nothing! If he was able to clear the barrier and went down the grass slope, he most likely had been killed or injured but we would not have seen him in the tall grass. At any rate we never saw him either on the road or off.

We finally gave up and went on, heading for home. We cried all the way back to Fort Worth, and it hasn't stopped yet. Last night, watching TV, I could not believe how much of a change there is to our home without him. This was his house and he took care of all of us. I told Linda last night I will never drive by a field where there are cattle in it without thinking of him and wishing I could hear him bark again.

Key, you were such a good dog and we miss you so much.