I’ve been wanting to write something about Harvey for awhile now but was not sure how, where…you know any reason not to basically fits here. Well, that was working fine until Heather had the wonderful idea of creating this blog and I knew this would be as good a place as any to finally put pen to paper on all the memories and stories I have of Harvey. Best to get them down while I still have (most) of my marbles. So here it goes, lots to say so I think I’ll break this up into a few separate posts over the next month or so…The story of Harvey starts way back in the fall of 1999 just a few months into my sophomore year of college at Western. After spending my freshman year in the dorms I moved into significantly better accommodations known as the “cash cow” (a house) with my three friends Rob, Ryan, and Scott. Having been a dog-lover my entire life one of the first things I talked to the roomies about was getting a dog. Not more then a few months later a 6-month old Harvey followed my brother Kevin and his wife Julie home while they were out for a walk. While home for Christmas break I went over to their house and after about 2 minutes of sitting on the floor with Harvey curled up in my lap I was hooked and the rest as they say was history. Here is one of the only pictures I have of the very young Harvey…
Now anybody who met Harvey knew he LOVED people…walks, naps, treats were all great…but open the front door and welcome in anyone from a friend to the homeless guy from the alley (only happened twice I think) and Harvey was up jumping around, whining and doing his patented ‘cirlces’ like a little kid at Chuck-E-Cheese. In that way I think college could not have been a better fit for Harvey…he was hardly ever alone and I was lucky enough to have many great friends who were always more then willing to help raise him. I think a lot of people enjoyed having Harvey around in college so much b/c they missed their own family dogs…that and he was so damn cool of course! I really do feel blessed to have had so many people help and put up with Harvey…it always made finding a place to live a little tougher with a dog, and he was a bit of a shedder...but he was also so fun, sweet, and a great guard dog to boot. Not great b/c he would ever actually do anything had the situation called – b/c to be honest Harvey was truly scared of his own shadow – however, he was blessed with a great deep bark and was never afraid to use it if he heard anything out of the ordinary (cue the doorbell on tv). It always felt safe in any home if Harvey was there…it’s one of the things Heather and I are struggling with the most now.
While Harvey’s college days were filled mostly with happy times at Lake Whatcom swimming (as seen in this pic with Rob) and socializing at parties - it’s also when I almost lost him entirely too early one night I know I’ll never forget. On a very typically wet and rainy November evening I got home from school/work to take Harvey out for a walk. I was living by myself in a 1-bedroom apartment at the time and I do not hesitate to admit that Harvey hated the place. It was too small and I was too busy with work and school to take him out during the day so when I did come home Harvey was always super excited. I’ve probably replayed the scene a million times in my head – before I had time to grab him Harvey slipped out of his leash and ran right out into traffic…he only made it about a ½ of a block before a guy driving a Ford pickup truck hit him nearly straight on. It was without a doubt the worst thing I have ever seen or heard in my life. I ran up seconds later and was sure my best friend was not going to make it…after a few moments of shock the driver (who was at no fault and felt incredibly bad) promised to watch over Harvey who was lying in the middle of the rainy street while I ran back to my apt and got my car. I scooped Harvey up, put him in the back, and bolted for my Vet which thankfully was only a few blocks away and was open for another 30 minutes. Fast forward a week and about $2K later and Harvey was through several nights in intensive care, 2 blood transfusions, and an 8 hour surgery to reconstruct his shoulder with wire and to place a metal rod in his leg. One bionic super dog. Check.
I don’t think I ever really was the same after the night Harvey got hit. I thought I was anal about him before but now it was a whole other level! His rehab from the accident and surgery was pretty rough – think of the dog in the body cast from “There’s Something About Mary” and you are on the right track.
I had to feed him by hand, carry him outside to use the bathroom, etc. The babying of Harvey was something we’d both get used to though...a behavior he came to expect regardless of how he was feeling I now realize . It was probably almost 2 years before Harvey really started to lose what friends liked to call his “gangsta limp”. He was already a bit clumsy so going on 3 wheels for awhile was tough on the big guy but he never complained and after a few years of swimming in the water, hikes in the woods, and lots of walks around the neighborhood…what started out as a noticeable limp was all but gone by the time he was about 4 or 5 years old.
This is also around the time I moved from Bellingham to Seattle and probably a good place to stop for now…more to come soon.
-Shaun
Newly engaged!
Enjoying the evening at the Inn at Langley
