Henry Walters

Henry Walter was a member of our household for a long time. It got to be that EVERYTHIG we did had an element of Henry being involved directly, or something we had to keep in mind.

Whenever we left the house, there was a protocol that we used to get ready to go, Mom grabbed some treats, Dad left to get in the car, then Mom put Henry into his pen and gave him enough treats to be able to distract him to get out the door.

Coming back, 80% of the time, he heard/felt/noticed the car and was barking to be let out. If it was me that lifted him out, he would go into a search for Mom. Disappointment would happen if she wasn’t in the house. This was followed by a mandatory walk outside for him to do his business.

We’d always be mindful that Henry didn’t like to be left alone. If I was outside at the same time as Mom, I’d know that the clock was ticking when I needed to get back inside before Henry became upset. It didn’t matter if I left him when he was asleep, he ‘knew’ that he needed to look around and find someone to be with him.

Mornings had a routine as well. When HW woke up, I tried to be the one to take him for his morning walk. There was a pretty set path that he would take around the place, that he followed. It didn’t matter if he ‘needed’ to take a longish walk, he made sure he inspected the whole property before he would consent to coming back in. He was strongest when he planted his feet to stop someplace until he was darn well ready to continue.

When Mom was in the house, each place she might be, in the sewing room, next to her rocker, or at her desk, had a resting place for Henry. If he fell asleep and she moved, he’d go into a brisk trot to re-find her to make sure she didn’t get away.

The above personality was completely different if it was just me in the house. Then, he would get into his bed pillow in the living room and sleep for 6-10 hours straight. I could move around, and maybe he would lift his head to watch me, but that was it. When Mom returned, up went the head and off he went.

All this is to say that Henry Walter was fully integrated into our thoughts and lives here. Our routines, patterns and awareness always took him into account. We miss him terribly. We know its best that he stopped struggling against his failing heart, but he is still in our hearts.