Duke was brought home when he was eight weeks old. He lived with our daughter at night, and he spent his days with me, his Grandma. It was a perfect arrangement for all of us, and Duke was never alone!
I would pick him up at 7:00 am each day. He would sit on his “throne” (really a comfy doggy seat), all buckled in, so he was always safe, as my passenger. When we arrived home (less than 10 miles away), we would take off for our first walk of the day.
There is a gardening store, called Green Acres, a little less than a mile away from our home. Duke loved the walk up to Green Acres, and always sniffed the great smells along the way. When we made it to the parking lot, Duke would start barking excitedly, to let all the employees know that he has arrived. As soon as we walked in, from all over the gardening store, inside and out, employees would yell, “Good Morning Duke” – as if royalty had made an appearance in their store!
At the cashier’s desk, there would always be a jar of mini dog treats. Of course, that was what Duke was most excited about, getting his two treats! As soon as he gobbled them down, off we went, to continue our walk, around the shopping center, and then back home again.
It was a perfect way, to start our day, for Duke and me. I will always remember our special morning walks up to Green Acres.
Our Duke lived to the ripe old age of 18 and was healthy almost to the end. What a blessing!
