Lucy the Wonderdog

Every once in a while you have an animal (mom says I can't call her a pet) who you think will live forever. You want all of them to live forever, but here and there is one who has a bigger than life personality and a spark that seems endless. Lucy was one of those, but no matter what we hope or think, they never live as long as you'd like. Yesterday afternoon, we put Lucy down at her favorite place in the world, the rubble pile at NASA Ames Research Center.  I've mentioned Lucy once in a while here, because although she was my mom's partner, she was my buddy from the day we met. 

Mom bought Lucy from her original handler when she was six years old and already an accomplished Search Dog, with credits including the Oklahoma City Bombing to her name.  Her then owner warned mom  that Lucy had an attitude as big as the day is long, and later sent a picture of Lucy at 8 weeks to prove her point:

She was right, Lucy did indeed have an attitude, but in our family that meant she fit right in. Within a day of meeting me, she was sleeping in my bed with her head on the other pillow. And she had been my furry friend from then on. 

I was there with mom and several of Lucy's best friends yesterday, so I got to hold both of them as Lucy went down.  Needless to say, I'm so glad I was there to say goodbye, but I'm really going to miss looking down to see her furry face peeking between my legs asking to be petted and even her sharp bark at about 9:30 telling me it was time for us to go to bed.

From here I'm going to let my mom tell you a bit more about Lucy, because I'm teaching her how to use Typepad so she can guest blog for the month I am away, and because she'll probably tell it better anyway. 

FROM SHANTI'S MOM:
When I got Lucy she was a hardened professional with years of wilderness and disaster search experience.  She had already survived two near-death experiences, a rattlesnake bite and chewing on walnut husks, both of which can be fatal to a lesser dog.  She had worked the OKC bombing with our Urban Search & Rescue team CA Task Force 3.  In the morning she would run over to my cot, give me kisses and then race back for her breakfast.  We were buddies from the beginning.  When I bought her from Caroline and started to work her it took me six weeks to earn her respect.  It wasn't easy.  Those of us who witnessed her acceptance of me as her new handler could tell you the moment it happened.  It was extremely obvious. 

At age 8 she injured her back leg and couldn't work rubble for six months.  In that six months she became a CA certified Human Remains Detection dog.  Within a few months she had found a murder victim buried 6-8 ft. in a landfill.  Finding that lady's body put the bad guy away forever.  That fall she found another murder victim and the next spring the victim of a drowning accident. 

We trained and honed our skills as a team for years until we were called upon to work the World Trade Center in Sept. 2001 with CA TF4.  She was incredible, finding her first human remains within five minutes of setting foot on the WTC site.  In addition to her work locating the victims of this travesty, she would go up to firefighters, police officers and construction workers, offer little kisses of condolence and absorb their tears into her coat.

Following the crash of the Shuttle Columbia Lucy was requested by NASA to fly to TX to help locate the remains of our astronauts.  She worked there for nine days as part of a massive team that eventually brought our astronauts home to their families.

Lucy worked with local police departments and sheriff's offices on crime scenes, went to grade schools and colleges to show what a  disaster search dog can do and attended safety fairs.  No matter what I asked her to do, she was more than willing  to try and usually accomplished the task after only a few repetitions.  It did take a while to convince her that "dead dogs" don't bark and roll their eyes.

I'm going to miss working with Lucy.  She was truly my partner in addition to being my best friend, accepting anything I did and loving me no matter what.

Lucy the Wonder Dog
January 1991-August 2006

Comments

[Kathy]

I am so, so sorry for the loss of Lucy. Thank you for telling her story. She was quite a dog!

[Betty]

I'm so sorry for your loss...

[patrice]

Shanti and SHanti's mom - I am so very sorry for your loss. I sent you an email - you'll understand why my empathy level is higher than it should be..for reasons I don't know, I decided that I had to read your blog this evening. Sounds as though Lucy led an amazing life - she truly made a difference. I'm sure you are all quite proud to have known her and loved her.

[Jennifer]

My condolences to you and your mother for your loss. Lucy seems to be one of those creatures who gives and gives and gives. Surely the amazing accomplishments she has made over the years, along with your mother's equally hard work, will provide comfort and lasting memories.

[Cathy]

I'm in tears. Condolences for your loss, and thank you for this moving tribute to a very special dog. What a gift to have had such a girl as friend and partner.

[Suzanne]

I'm sorry for you loss. What an incredible dog and pet. Thank you for sharing her story.

[Susanne]

Lucy was indeed a hero in her own right. We should all be SO grateful for the work that Rescue Animals,like Lucy, do for us.
"Lucy the Wonder Dog", is right, my thoughts and prayers are with you, she will never be forgotten.

[Erin]

I am so sorry for your loss. What an amazing animal (and pet)!!

[Mary]

My condolences to you and your mum. Thank you for sharing Lucy's story - she sounds like an amazing animal.

[Morgan]

I am so sorry for your loss of Lucy. It sounds like she has led an amazing life with you. Helping others unselfishly and with pleasure. thank you for sharing her story. I too agree that animals make the choice about who they wish to be with. She chose you for a reason.

[The Purloined Letter]

Lucy sounds like she was an incredible dog. She did so much for the world. I'm glad she had such loving companions.

[Polly]

i'm so sorry for your loss. I never did like the term pet applied to anything other than stick insects or fish. Dogs and cats always become part of the family.

What an incredible life for Lucy.. and how lucky you were to have each other

[terby]

My condolences. She sounds like she was an exemplary dog. Thanks for sharing her story - she was remarkable. A lot of people will never do as much important work as she did.

[--Deb]

Oh, she sounds like such a wonderful dog! I'm so, so sorry for all of you. Losing a member of the family like that is never easy. I bet she'd love the tribute, though....

[Tracy]

A big thank you to Lucy for all that she has done. May she rest in peace.

[Betsy]

She is an amazing person/dog. Hairy people are sometimes the best ones. I wish all of the hairless people could love like our "pets" do!

[Kel]

Good dog. Good dog, Lucy.

[Lorri]

What a great tribute to a great dog! "Wonder Dog" indeed.

[CARLOTTA LINCOLN, BETTY BISCHOFF, LISA CRUMMEY, R.N.s, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsul]

We are so very sorry for your loss of such a wonderful and acomplished and amazing dog/friend. Her rescue missions were amazing to read and brought tears to our eyes. Thank you for sharing your story.

Carlotta, Betty, and Lisa