Max looks on as Louise pets a heifer.
In April, 1992, a black dog appearing to be a spaniel/labrador mix wandered into Deer Run Farm while we were in the process of bringing in a larger mobile home. (Don was in Iraq and Kim, his wife, had come to live with us.)
A similar dog, but female, had been adopted by our good neighbors the Parris's about a week before. They named her Maria, and at first I thought this dog was Maria. Then I noticed he was a male, friendly, and with a jaunty air. I thought, this fellow is a maximum dog. So he became Mr. Maximum Dog, but Max to his friends. And he was our friend for the next twelve years.
Which makes it all the more upsetting to me that this is the best photo I can find of him without going to the garage and digging through boxes of prints from the '90s.
Gladys and Max watch as Louise pets Freckles.
In those years we briefly had two other dogs -- Gladys, a small, collie-type, and Brigit, a border collie. Gladys was a nice dog, but she disappeared. We believe our other neighbor killed her for running his cattle. We think Brigit ran away, although we have never known for sure.
Max had demodetic mange, but thanks to Louise's loving care, lived a long, happy life. With sadness, we had him put to sleep when his life became burdensome to him.
I actually credit Max for saving our marriage. We finally sold our old house and were able to build on the farm in 1993 and '94. We had much difficulty with the contractor, and sometimes the tensions in our home were so great we could hardly speak to each other. So it became, "Max, tell your mother. . ." or Max, tell your father. . ."
Truly a maximum dog. I'll keep looking for a better picture.
More to come.
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