Dog is definitely man’s best friend, and this dog is the epitome of it. Here’s the story of 16 year old Steve Mason, a Husky, Lab, Rottweiler mutt that laid it all on the line for his owners.
In the words of his owner:
“This is Steve Mason, the most incredible dog I have ever met and my best friend of the past 16 years. And this is the story of how he died saving my life one last time.
Steve Mason, “Mason” to his friends was a Husky, Lab, Rottweiler mutt with insanely fluffy ears and markings on his face that made it look like he was always wearing Harry Potter specs. I picked him out of a litter of puppies because while all the others yipped and squealed and played, he was the only one to stop and snuffle the flowers.
He and I went on enough adventures to shame the Fellowship, and hit the top of more mountains than I can honestly remember. He always had this way of perking up his ears that could spur me to keep going, either to the top of a ridge line or out of what ever ridiculous angst I found myself muddled in.
He was obsessed with shortening sticks and tearing up any cardboard he could find. He was extremely meticulous and many a vacuum clear died trying to tidy up his messes.
Mason was a best friend and rock steady companion for my older brother and a traveling companion like no other. And every time he saw my brother, even if five years had gone by, he’d still try and jump in his arms like a puppy.
Everyone who met him came away saying that he was a remarkable dog, and many could honestly say he was the nicest person they’d ever met.
Over the past two years he began to show his age. His hearing and much of his eyesight abandoned him, along with his sense of balance.
I kept expecting him to die in his sleep or collapse on a hike.
My worst fear was that he would grow so old and infirm that we’d have to put him down. I honestly didn’t think I’d be able to go through what I’ve had to do for so many other dogs with him. He was far too special. He just seemed so old.
