My Rusty, rusticcio, rusticular testicular, Sally, the most handsome dog to walk the planet earth, ugh how I’ll miss you. You put up a good fight all the way to the end. You were the smartest, most protective, resilient, loving and photogenic dog that I have met. You were so loved that even when we weren’t home you were with us. Toobs would bring a pretend plastic phone that then morphed into a ring that could call you and she would tell you where she was and check in while she was out of the house. You are so loved that even when you passed away Toobs still talks to ghost Rusty every morning.

You entered our lives in complete Rusty fashion. We had just lost our lab, Betsy, and Dada was at the police station in Cobano when you took the opportunity to just jump into the car and adopt our family. You thought you were lucky, but in the end we were the lucky ones. I remember Dada calling me while I was home with baby Sabs and toddler sissy and he said ummm I think I’m bringing a dog home. I saw your photo and I mean who could resist (clearly not me). You slipped right into our family like putting on an old shoe.

From the moment you came home until the day you passed, you made it your life mission to protect us and be by our side. You loved to explore but always found your way home. Even in the deepest jungles of CR while we were walking on hanging bridges and you were having no part of that danger, you navigated your way through the jungles below us and miraculously found us on the other side. If we were out at restaurants in CR and you came along you would go off an explore but always be waiting right by the car when it was time to go. One time you followed Joe’s car into ST and when you couldn’t find your way home you decided to find your way to our vet and just wait at her door until she opened. You were hand down the smartest, most resourceful dog that I have ever met.

When we moved you to the Azores you became the house dog you always wanted to be. You loved cuddles, attention, and just being with your family. You had a happy dance and a song we sang for you that will never be forgotten. “Oh happy day, Oh happy day, my name is Rusty, hey hey hey!”.  Also important to note, you never smelled like dog. You had the sweetest little Rusty smell and softest little floppy bits that we all adored.

You never lost your sense of adventure and still found your way out of the yard to go explore but found your way home every single time. Rick was watching you while we were in Japan and you went off on an adventure for over 24hrs. He panicked, put up fliers, called the police, searched all the river and surrounding areas only to find you walking home through the hootie hole like nothing happened the following day.

I’ll miss so many things about you. I’ll never forget petting your sweet face after you passed and how peaceful, soft, and angelic you looked. I thought it would wreck me to see you after, and almost didn’t want to because I wanted to keep the last memory of you alive, but it was gentle, loving and you lived this life right.

Oh, and don’t worry my sweet Rusticcio, you’re still alive in our house. Ghost Rusty has his morning greetings and still gets called when something impressive happens. You are and were the rock star of doggies. Shine on shiny. Hope you’re somewhere chasing red lasers all day long and following every reflection possible. Love you and all your floppy bits forever.