Gitzo “Shmozer” Tyre, went home to be with her creator on Saturday, May 24, 2014. She was 17 years old.
Originally adopted under the guise of “protection”, she never met a stranger, or bit anyone in anger, although she had been known to accidentally nip a finger in her eagerness to devour a treat.
While home was her favorite place to be, she traveled extensively throughout the South. She experienced the feel of sand on her paws on the beach at St. Simon’s Island, ran under the Spanish moss in historic Savannah, heard the rumblings of the coal train in Virginia, and chased squirrels in the Tennessee mountains. She camped on the shores of Lake Allatoona, rode in a boat and on a 4-wheeler, and once spent a night being a good girl and not barking in a “no-pets allowed” hotel along I-75.
Gitzo didn’t like to show off, but she would, when pressed, sit and shake, lie down, and “get busy.” And although she came from humble beginnings, she embodied everything lovely and good in her species. No finer dog ever graced the lawn at Westminster.
She was loyal and kind, gentle and long-suffering with children, and she was loved by everyone who knew her, but especially her canine friend, Freeda, and her human family, Lisa, JD and Rachel.
She will be missed.
Gitzo was laid to rest in Tennessee, next to cousins Bad Jack, Molly, and Lucy in the family cemetery.
“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you. Speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea tell you. Every one of these knows that the hand of the Lord has done this. The life of every creature and the breath of all people are in God’s hand.” (NCV) Job 12:7-10
Tears forming a puddle on my counter as I type this. Beautiful and so poignant. Love you!
Good bye Gitzo I love you. You are among good friends on the mountain.