Tribute to Samson—12/25/00 - 07/02/10
Gentle Giant; Big Baby; Mischievous Imp
Samson came to us from a military family in Biloxi, MS in April of 2001 when they realized a giant puppy, miltary housing, two other dogs, two kids and one car was not going to work for them. We flew him to Indianapolis on April 23rd, where he had a tumultuous arrival when the baggage carrier took a curve too fast on his way to the terminal with him, and Sam's crate tumbled off the luggage cart, popped open and our first site of him was him jumping around the grassy area of the tarmac. He was fine—no injuries. He weighed 50 lbs at 4 months old and stopped growing at about 150 lbs. He stood over 7' tall on his back legs.
What was first thought to be vestibular disease, Samson was diagnosed with a brain tumor in April and had surgery in early May. The tumor was large and seriously impacted his cerebellum after it was removed, making him unable to walk or get up on his own. John fabricated a unique Pyr hauling/walking apparatus for him, using a harness in the front and two collars around his groin, with a leash connecting both, making him a 100-lb Pyr purse; he was not amused. Even though he could not walk on his own, he let us know when he wanted to go outside, get a drink of water, lie in the van, or go a particular direction. He had a unique relationship with a pet communicator who helped share his wishes and commands very effectively.
Samson was so gentle. He was the one we let the little kids walk when they wanted to walk a dog. You could walk him with your little finger under his collar. He attended puppy and adult obedience training his first year, and got his therapy dog certification at the Great Pyrenees National in 2008.
Frequently mistaken for Donald Sutherland, his favorite activities included opening the front door to let himself and whoever followed him out; playing hide-and-seek with mom and dad when we tried to catch him as he stayed just close enough for us to see him, and just far enough for us not to catch him, until he was ready to come home; pottying in the neighbor's yard who did not like him; eating McDonald's double cheeseburgers; riding with his head out the sun roof of the Ford Explorer; eating frozen custard; dressing up as a devil for Halloween, a reindeer at Christmas, and most recently as the Easter Bunny at a local Easter Egg Hunt; stealing the butter off the kitchen counter and choking it down by the time he got to the end of the bedroom hall; digging crabs out of the sand at the beach; frolicking in the ocean, lake, baby pool, pond, but not an official swimming pool; going for car rides—any, and honking the horn with his paw. He was a wonderful Great Pyrenees ambassador—always got along with other four-legged beasts, was welcoming to new foster dogs, and a good role model for the new dogs. He was kind to the cats too, who very much appreciated it. He will be sadly missed by his companion, Sophie, who enjoyed daily romp fests with him; Glacier, his youngest housemate, who always shared with him; and Theo, the last boy to join the family who always respected him; and his heartbroken Pyrents, Jane and John Rose. He truly was a GREAT Pyrenees.
Samson, a GREAT Pyrenees.
