Yesterday we lost our beloved dog Finnegan to cancer. He was 7 years old.
Finn was rescued by Maeday Rescue along with 3 other pups and their mom from a parking lot in Tarzana. He was, to us, less of a dog and more of a little boy. He was sweet, watchful, and affectionate, but also rambunctious, independent, and opinionated. We never learned his breed, but we suspect he was largely Lhasa Apso, who the Tibetan monks had guard their holy temples. His favorite things were balls and cheese, and his least favorite things were children and water.
Finn was whip smart and learned 15+ tricks in his short life: “sit,” “stay,” “roll over,” “speak,” “stand up” and more. He also learned things we never meant for him to: "where's your mom" and "where's your dad" would send him searching for either one of us; "go see who it is" would heave him howling toward the door.
He would ask for pets by propping himself up on your knee and then petting himself, pawing at his own face. He would go upside-down for belly-rubs, and then - if you stopped - go somehow *further* upside-down, making himself irresistible. He would ask to play ball by dropping it repeatedly at your feet ad infinitum. And, if your face was in reach, he would launch himself at you and cover you in kisses.
His long hair was the talk of the neighborhood. When we dyed his tail rainbow colors for pride, he earned the local nickname "rainbow dog." When he ran - at a top speed pretty impressive for 13 pounds - his hair would be one step behind him, creating a sort of antigravity effect. When he was bathed by the wonderful team at Jess Rona Grooming, he would suddenly look as small and fragile as he really was.
I'll miss the "ka-thunk, ka-thunk, ka-thunk" of him coming down the stairs. I'll miss the way he'd nonchalantly bark at the door for hours, like a percolating pot of coffee. I'll miss the way he unfolded his entire body to pee, like a ballerina. I'll miss him sunbathing on the deck in the morning, wearing squinty eyes and a deadpan expression. And I'll miss his holy presence in our lives. Dog backwards and all that.
Love you forever, little man.
