To be loved by a dog is a gift

She was the best dog, the very best dog, actually the best dog ever ... all 6 pounds of her. 

Miss Annie's "gotcha day" was March 15, 2010, which was our 24th wedding anniversary, hence her name Annie.

She was a 7-month-old puppy in unfortunate circumstances. Her elderly owner passed away and family couldn't take her in. A friend who volunteered at the Kootenai Humane Society called to ask if I'd be interested in adopting a Yorkie. Bert and I had been empty nesters for quite some time, with no children or pets at home. No harm in meeting the puppy, I thought. Famous last words.

It was love at first sight, like one of those slow-motion movie scenes running towards each other through a flowery meadow. As I drove home with the puppy and her kennel and toys in tow, I realized I'd never talked it over with my husband.

So I stopped at his shop, and with Annie tucked in my coat, I said I brought him an anniversary gift as I put her in his arms. He wasn't thrilled but thank goodness he loves me. His famous last words ... OK, but she's your dog.

Before the end of the evening, Annie had staked her claim to Bert's heart and lap and shoulder. From that moment on, she was "daddy's girl."

Through the years that little dog proved to be exceptional in every way. Try as I might to frou-frou her up, she resisted top knots, bows and doggie apparel. Had she been a human daughter, she would have been a tomboy with skinned knees and a dirty face.

She had no bad habits, if you overlook her favorite sport — bolting out the front door at every opportunity and racing like the wind to greet neighbors and dogs down the block. She was absolutely convinced that everyone was as happy to see her as she was them. 

Annie took her responsibilities seriously ... backyard perimeter checks and keeping us safe from intruders, real or imagined. She protected us from cats, birds, squirrels, wind, falling leaves, cars driving down the street and ax murderers disguised as delivery men.

Annie was my muse, my companion and my confidant. She made me laugh often. As dogs do, she loved us without condition, despite our flaws and faults, because to her we were the best family ever.

In recent years Annie became a world-class napper. She even let an occasional cat or squirrel trespass on the front porch. Signs of dementia appeared as she'd look confused or just sit somewhere and bark at nothing. Even as her sight and hearing diminished, she could still hear a wrapper being opened in another room and was lightning fast to snatch up any morsel of food that happened to fall to the kitchen floor. She still mustered a yip and joyful twirl when Bert came home from work. But an open front door was no longer an invitation to see the world.

At nearly 15 years of age, we knew our sweet Annie was in her twilight but that didn't mean we were ready. On Friday evening, she suffered a small stroke and was unable to walk. We cuddled and comforted her, knowing our girl was ready even if we weren't.

Just before midnight May 24, I told her she was the very best dog one last time. How blessed were we to have been loved by Miss Annie for over 14 years. For that, I'll be forever grateful.

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Happy Main Street birthdays today to Louisa St. John Durkin (95!), Star Shewey, Tiffany Williams, Jeff Pryse, Butch Andrews, Donnie Shuck and Pehr Black. Matt Weaver, Justin Curtis, Sheila Spears, Jenny Prince, Chip Wideen, Chloe Fleming (16!) and Becky Bridges will enjoy birthday cake tomorrow. Happy last day of May birthdays to Ron Shoop, Trey Barker III, Cindy Wood, Craig Singer, Lindsay Cantrell, Peggy Suenkel, Diane Huber and Meredith Close. On the first day of June, Sandy Shopbell (80!), Dave Stutzke, Shannon Coles, Debbie Costa, Patrick Booth, Drake Foster, Mason Alexander, Tresa Brown and Vicki White will celebrate. On Sunday, Al Williams, Mike and Mitch Alexander, Nancy Mueller, Brenda Walters, Irene Seidler and Nels Jensen whoop it up. JoAnn Nelson, Mitch Heid, Scott Osburn, Matthew Huthinson, Kathy Larson, Devin Weeks, Sharon Timmons, Susan Mensching and Matt Boseth start the work week on a birthday note. On June 4, Natalie Wyant (16!), Lynsie Odd, Jay Sadler, Kirk Dady and Jessica Downs Anundson have their cake and eat it, too.

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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press. Find Kerri on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com.