As a lonely truckdriver I had stopped in Arizona for a shower and some grub I saw a man loading up a sign that said free puppies and putting this cute little black pup into a crate in the back, I walked up to him and asked is that pup up for grabs too? he said yeah but you don't want him I asked why he said he's kinda stupid and runs sideways.
I said let me be the judge of that. I picked up this puppy who immediately kissed my cheek and snuggled into my arm and fell asleep. The old man said I guess he likes ya. I asked what he was and he said his queensland blue heeler had bred with a boarder collie. He said pups were born on april fools day. I thanked the guy and took my new best friend back to my truck. As soon as I set him down on the seat my C.B. Radio lit up "Hey Duckee girl whats that you got?" I grabbed the Mike and said clearly A pup a cute little pup, The voice on the radio said "Whatcha gonna name it?" I said I don't know we will figure it out. I left the pup in the truck and ran in to take my shower. When I came out he was on the ground with my running partner playing fetch. I stood there just watching this lil 10 week old puppy run after a small branch and retrieve it and bring it back, I did notice he actually did run sideways. So that was his name "Sideways"
He grew up on the truck piddled on my head while I slept, learned that was not the right thing to do when mama's sleeping lol! I scolded him you would have thought I just spanked him he turned his head and let out a yowl. I was like your not stupid are you? He looked at me and cocked his head knowing I was being kind yet stern with him. I put him outside and said you gotta go you go out here not in the truck bad boy sideways. He stayed outside for the night curled up on his blanket under the trailer. He hadn't touched his food or water by the time I woke up and was ready to bring him back into the truck. (yes I had washed my hair I just didn't want to bore you with that kind of information)
As Sideways grew so did my family, my daughter in law gave birth to my first grandchild a boy, Then my daughter gave birth to a baby girl, then a son my family grew quickly. Sideways was very kind to the children, one day when I pulled up my grandson was just 2 yrs old and squeeled when he was Sideways I slowly walked Sideways to Nathan and just as clear as a bell my grandson pointed and said Isabubby. So that was his nickname. Sideways Isabubby.
As time went on Sideways became my world, my companion and my best friend in the world, never judging me if I made a mistake or was in a bad mood, He protected me if someone tried to get in the truck He was on them in an instant, He was the dog I'd always wanted.
Last year Sideways retired from the truck, I also came off the truck to be with him, He had a seizure while I was in Columbus, Ohio I ran him up to Ohio State Emergency Pet Hospital and was given the devastating news that my best friend had brain cancer. They controlled his seizures with medications and told me he maybe had 3 months. I just cried. Holding my best friend in my arms and carried him to the truck for the last 38 mile treck home. I shut down the truck and just took him out and put him on his bed he was so tired and worn out from all the tests and meds. I looked at the bottle of pills and said we can do this together boy but if it gets too hard tell me ok? And I sat down and cried again.
He had many more seizures over the next 8 months we would increase his meds and take new levels. One morning I woke up to find My boy just laying there I said Come on lets go potty he tried to force himself up I noticed he'd peed on the floor and layed in it to cover it up. I told him it's ok lets get you cleaned up he hobbled with me to the bathroom where I bathed him for the last time. He knew and I knew at that moment that it was time. I took him outside to go to the bathroom he went to lift his leg and fell over on his side into a massive seizure. I called my vet who was two doors down from my house, she came over and said you know there's nothing left to do. I looked down at my boy and lifted him into my arms his 55 lbs had shrunk to 32lbs I asked how can this be we were playing fetch yesterday, she just smiled and said the last hoorah. We put him on his bed and she administered valium to try and stop his seizing, instead he passed away shortly after. I felt so guilty thinking I'd let the doctor kill my dog, she assured me that she only gave him 10 mg of valium hardly enough to kill an animal. I realized a week later that on May 8th 2011 my boy had given me his puppyhood back for one day. On May 9th 2011 at 3:22pm Sideways passed on to the rainbow bridge to await my arrival.
God has a special place for boys and girls like him I know it I just know it. His ashes are on the fireplace above where he used to lay with his picture. I miss you my boy