The beautiful dog shown here with Muggles and I at Quail Run Dog Park is Grady, a Harlequin Great Dane.
Grady and Jillian, the young woman who owned him from the time he was a tiny puppy, always went to the park early in the morning. Since Muggles and I also go early in the morning, they soon became friends.
Grady was always a perfect gentlemen. He was gentle and well behaved. He was very old for a Great Dane, almost eleven, which is past the average life span for a Great Dane. One day I asked Gillian, "How old is Grady?" She looked at me and whispered, "He is almost eleven but we don't tell him that."
It was so much fun to see Grady and Muggles playing together. Their size and coloring were such a beautiful contrast. Gillian would throw a ball for Grady and Muggles would wait her chance to grab it and then just try getting it away from her, it was now her ball. Tease that she is, she would pretend she was going to give it back, but when we would make a move toward it, she would give a little growl, grab it and dash away. Gillian and several other people at the park, began to bring an extra ball so when Muggles grabbed one and ran, there would still be a ball for the other dogs to play with. Grady was very patient with Muggles. He acted like he didn't notice her running under his belly and in out of his legs. . . . it was her own personal obstacle course.
Sadly, Grady passed away a few months ago. But when it happened, he was doing what he loved the most; playing at the dog park with Gillian and the rest of his friends. He was so happy and there was no pain, but I was glad that Muggles and I were not at the park that day.
George printed these pictures for me today and I decided I would post them as a tribute to Grady and thank him for being mine and Muggles' friend.
2 comments:
Marie said: Grady was such a huge, gorgeous dog! Muggles looks so tiny next to him.
Grady was as beautiful as you said he was when you would talk to me about Muggle's friend who was a gentle giant.
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