Family History- Remembering Emmy

Emmy joined our family in June of 1993. At that time we were stationed in Texas, at Fort Hood. For my birthday, We decided that we would get a pup. After looking in the papers we found some that were to be given away for free.
In looking at the pup litter, Emmy was the only one that took on the Red Heeler look. If you don't know what a Red Heeler is, it is a cow dog. They are cattle herders. They are colored like English Setters or Blue Heelers, but red or brown spots on white. In a word, she was ugly. All of her siblings were black and looked like Labs. We figured that no one would take her. We took her to be sure that she got a home.
Emmy's favorite actives were running around our back yard, and barking. These interest were usually combined to entertain Emmy and annoy us. But, she was a good watch dog and earned her keep. She also was very good tempered.
When Emmy was about one or two she had her first encounter with Fire Ants. If you have never lived in the deep south, most likely you have never had the experience of meeting these aggressive, bad tempered, and well armed creatures. Fire ants have been known to kill cattle before, if you believe Texas lore. Having been bitten often by these pest, I happen to believe it. These little guys live in colonies. They have painful bites that produce a pus pocket and itch like mad. Where ever one of two are gathered together, bad times await you.
Back to Emmy, I guess that she fell asleep near a colony. Somehow they really got her around her muzzle and eyes. She had the look of a amature boxer on the wrong end of Mike Tyson. Her eyes were all but swollen shut, her muzzle was twice its normal size. She was very unhappy.
I took her to the Vet to get her some relief. Up until this time I have never known her to snap or act out towards other animals. Even cats were usually safe around her. Enter.... the ankle biter.
As we got to the animal hospital we came in contact with a hair ball with a bark. You know the type. As I remember it the little dog was in sometype of basket or blanket, being carried by a over protective owner.
The little dog lit into Emmy with gusto. Firing on all cylinders, it was giving Emmy every thing it had. That day I saw another side of Emmy. This side was the " I've had a very bad day and I'm not going to take it anymore." Her counter attack both surprized and amazed me. She really took the dog to task and reminded it that little ankle biters are not exactly at the top of the food chain. That day Emmy rose a notch or two in my respect.
Another thing about Emmy, she absolutely hated the UPS man. I am not sure just exactly how this came to be. Maybe her packages didn't arrive on time, or maybe they over charged her. But regardless,nothing perked up her day like the arrival of the unfortuante UPS man. When UPS showed up Emmy had something to do. She came alive and barked and strained to get at him. Her barking reached new levels of being loud and aggressive.
Her greatest claim to fame was the story our neighbor told us about the day she chased the UPS man across the yard and into his truck. There is no doubt in my mind that she smiled about that for a week or more. The altimate reward was the guarded look in the eyes of every wary UPS man that came into the area.
Emmy was a wanderer. After we came back from Texas we had to keep her tied all of the time. I very much regret this. But for Emmy it came as a means of keeping her out of trouble and out of the pound. Here in Pulaski we have a leash law. I guess that Emmy still had enough of the Texas plains spirit in her to want to strike out on her own.
I use to get so angry with her when she would slip her leash and go on a walk. If I saw her in time I could usually call to her and get her attention. She would give me a casual backwards glance, pause for the effect of letting me know that she heard me, then go loping off, secure in the knowledge that I could not catch her.
Another fun activity Emmy loved was dumpster diving. Well, actually, it was more like begging. There was a drive in- resturant down below our house that she would frequent most every day. In this way she could make that" ugly look "work for her. Setting there looking lost and forgotten earned her many dinner scraps that a pretty dog most likely could not get. Emmy was no dummy.
Emmy was a tough dog. I have never seen a dog like her who seemed to sneer at the use of a dog house. I could never understand her adversion to using her house when it was raining. But there she would be, laying out there in the downpour like she was soaking up the sun. It amazed me the stamine that she displayed up until the end of her life. I found that I could learn alot from her about just having a "do it" attitude.
Emmy past away on the 19th January. She had several medical problems that were causing her to be in constant pain. She could no longer walk without great effort. Her back hips were giving out on her. Her bladder was something she could not control anymore.
After much thought and some prayer, I came to the conclusion that I had to let her retain her pride and dignity. I just could not watch her from day to day suffering like she was. I have no doubt that I owed her more then this.
On the 19th I took her to the vet. With her head in my hands, I bid her farewell. I am not sure just what standing that dogs have with there creator. I feel that if the Lord took the time to create dogs spiritually and physically, he has a purpose for them in the after life. I look forward to calling to Emmy, seeing her turn and look at me, and go loping off on her own walk.