The lil' Rascal

Last night, Our beloved Brindle American Pit bull Terrier / Great Dane mix died.
The front door of the house was left ajar, he and Miss Lola saw an opportunity to go adventuring and seized it. The Lil' Rascal ventured onto state highway 55 and was struck by a young motorist. he was struck in the head and died instantly. It was not the drivers fault.

I know this to be fact because I witnessed it as it happened. This was one of the most traumatic things I've seen in my very much unsheltered life.
As I pulled onto the highway in my search for The Rascal, not more than 15 car lengths ahead of me, I saw him dart into the street from a grassy hillock. His tail was held high, his ears perked and tongue lolling. The perfect image of a pup on a great adventure. The driver had no chance to apply his brakes until after the impact. He was thrown to the shoulder and had already breathed his last breath as I run up to him. I won't go into details of the anguish and pain I felt kneeling on the side of that wet road, for Him, My Wife and Children and myself, for it is too near and fresh in my mind, it is as a taste it upon my lips, an odor in my nose.
My Wife in inconsolable, My children are emotionally shattered, Miss Lola is hurting, searching the house and yard for her companion. I to, am hurt deeply but I must see them all through this as this has always been my roll in life. Keep everything together, keep focus and direction and make sure no one is left behind.

The Rascal is home now, forever. We buried him beneath the trampoline that he first feared, then grew to love and did actually jump up and down on. We will not see his greeting smile with those incredibly crooked teeth, nor hear him sing "Who Let the Dogs Out?" in the light of day but, despite our grief, we see it all in our minds and and smile.
Some dogs share our lives for many years. They enrich our lives and add a light that defies description. Honey was one such dog we were fortunate enough to have in our lives. Others, Like The Rascal don't just add light, they burn brightly. They are more "Here" They are more "Real" than the common animal. When one burns this brightly, I believe, one cannot last long nor, are they meant to.
This describes The Lil' Rascal perfectly. He survived early separation from his Mother, puppy illness and then, he was rescued on his last day at the pound before they were to euthanize him. Every day with him (to Him) was a joy and a new adventure. always happy and goofy. Never dull or stupid. He was a real pleasure to have in the Family.

You, who have never shared a bond with an animal will not understand, nor will I attempt to make you understand the level of grief and despair you can experience in this situation.
I'm not comparing the loss of an "Animal" to a human loss. I have survived the loss of a close family member, which is of course, devastating. But, it also was not entirely unexpected. To lose a young, vibrant Animal (to those of use who consider them part of the Pack) to me and my family, is indeed, the sudden unexpected loss of a Family member.

I hope everyone of you gets the chance to experience the joy, happiness and satisfaction that is felt in your heart when such an animal shares their life with you. May their lives be long and full like our Honey's was. I hope none of you ever has to go through what we are going through now, with a bare patch of earth in the backyard and a bare patch on our hearts.