Buddy Clifford Grinter 2000-2011

In 2000, a blessing was (literally) dumped into our lives.  He was a big puppy, and for whatever reason, someone decided the thing to do with him was to dump him in the country.  We fell in love.   The really funny thing was...our girls had been praying for a big dog.  We had just had to put down our previous dog due to old age and the paralysis following a ruptured disc, and the girls were heartbroken.  They naturally thought having another dog would help them heal.  I told them it would have to wait.  We were in the process of moving, and it just wasn't a good time.  Almost overnight, a giant playful puppy showed up on our doorstep.  The girls each gave him a name.  Buddy because he was friendly, and Clifford because he was huge.  They had named him...I guess that meant that we were going to keep him. 

Although the girls and I loved Buddy, he took a particular shine to Ted.  (And Ted to him.)

They were inseparable!

If Ted went out in the pickup...Buddy would jump in the back.

But Buddy was most enamored of the Gator.  (I think because he got to sit up front with Ted.)

Anywhere Ted went, Buddy ran after...

At home, Buddy kept a good eye on things and liked to bark at deer.  He did not, however, ever bark at people.  We always said he was a good watchdog.  He could watch people all day!

Buddy always loved winter.  Especially when it snowed.

But without a doubt, Buddy's favorite thing in the world was going to work with Ted everyday.  

(And I mean EVERY DAY!) 

These two boys...they were buddies!

So...Buddy got old and it was getting hard for him to move his huge frame around.  Eating and moving was more and more of a chore for him and today he made the decision to not try anymore. 
Then we had to make a hard decision ourselves.

We believe Buddy had the best life a dog could have, and he enjoyed his life to the fullest.  All of our family will miss him terribly.  But I think that Ted will feel the most profound loss.
 He has lost his shadow...and his best friend.