His birthdate and place of birth were unknown. During a rescue of dogs from a puppy mill he was found alone in a dark building. The owner said he was too old to sell. When asked what would happen to him, the man shrugged. Scotties and other Westies had already been taken in by their respective rescues...he was the only one left. "Can we have him?"...the answer was "sure - no charge, he is too old" and so he made his way to freedom.

He had a terrible cyst over one eye, his little butt was swollen and burned, probably from cleaning chemicals used on the run and his teeth were in terrible shape. The vet was afraid to do more than give him some antibiotics and was not sure he would survive, but "the old man" made the journey to rescue nearly 400 miles away with a jaunty air and tail held high.

It took 5 months of rehabilitation and one false placement from which he actually got lost before he made his way back to me. But even with no teeth, deaf, and nearly blind, he trotted out to greet the world every morning with enthusiasm and joy. He loved all people, dogs, cats and especially children. He never met a stranger.

Linus was only with us for a little over a year, but in that year he touched everyone who knew him. Although he had spent most of his life in the puppy mill, he still retained a gentleness and optimism that were hard ignore. He passed away of a brain tumour in April, 2002. Everyone who knew him misses him, but in September, 2002 he arranged for another elderly West HIghland White Terrier gentleman to join the three scotties in Durango. He will always be missed.

Susan

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Sometimes you just never know what unbelievable gifts come in the most unusual of packages..... I wasn't there when Bennie arrived to become a part of my life. I got my first peek at what would become a huge part of my heart over my husband's shoulder as Bobby carefully cut away a huge amount of matted hair. What emerged from that bathroom on that August afternoon was a most handsome boyo. What a face!! It showed so much intelligence.... the brown eyes held so much wisdom. He was skittish.... not sure of these new people who seemed to fawn all over him. He followed my husband like a shadow. Bennie didn't much care for women....at first. I tried not to be hurt... I knew what he had come from.... didn't know how long he had endured that hell..... much patience on my part would be needed......

What to name him??? We wanted him to have a new name for a new life.... We pondered..... We have a tradition of naming our male pups after Dallas Cowboys players...... But which one suited this new addition to our family??? My hubby, in his wisdom, suggested Quincy.... He was a rookie and from my home state of Georgia..... Perfect!!! Bennie became forever more Quincy.....

The first days were rough.... He didn't trust us. Spent a lot of time in his carrier..... I thought we would never get him to spend time with us.... The only time he would surface was when nature called or the suspicious sound of the food bag being brought out to fill the dishes was heard. Quincy loved his dinner time!! LOL...

Slowly, with time, I began to notice a quiet figure sitting at the edge of the goings on in the house.... Watching.... soaking in this new family..... these two new friends, Maggie and Emmitt. As time went by, the figure came closer.... allowed the new family to pet and cuddle him. Quincy had decided this family would do....

I can't remember every moment with him.... The days went by in a comfortable haze.... Quincy, Maggie, and Emmitt became pals.... partners in crime.... fellow comrades in mooching..... A blur of frapping black fur..... All of them spoiled, and hopefully, happy...... Quincy, for some reason, picked me to bond most closely with. He was my constant shadow. Following me from room to room. Waiting patiently for me to come home from work. Looking for me in every room until I was found if I happen to move while he slept. No other "friend" had ever needed me so much to be content....

Life was wonderful for almost two years... Oh, we had our bumps in the road.... Emmitt had surgery to remove a tumor...we moved in to a new home..... Quincy's ears began to give him trouble.....he slowed down.... but still seemed happy and content.

Nothing prepared me for a Friday morning in November.....

The day after Thanksgiving.....

I call our vet.... Quincy really had not been acting right. For the last couple of days, he had been refusing food. Sleeping a lot.....Not like my Quincyman.... I thought it was simply a case of ear infections getting nasty. Oh if only it could have been so simple. Routine bloodwork came back with a grim diagnosis... My sweet, brave boy was in kidney failure. Nothing could be done.... At 2 p.m. on that sunny, cool Friday afternoon, I held my heart in my arms as he took his last breath..... in peace.... and with knowing he was loved... never to be left alone again...even in this.

Quincy left me with a broken heart... not because of what he didn't give me, but for what I thought I had not had time to give to him.... He deserved so much.... The unconditional love and acceptance of a human being, the long walks on a sunny afternoon where he carefully enjoyed every new smell, the never-ending food and water dish, the belly scritches, cuddles on a bad day.

But, he left me with a knowledge that no matter what you put a soul through, it can triumph.... That love is enduring.... it heals even the most evil of wrongs....it can forgive and allow you to begin again.... Thank you Quincy...... For loving me and allowing me the greatest honor of loving you!!

With all my love,

Mam

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