In Loving Memory of Samus, Our “Famous Samus”
I adopted Samus from the Guilford County Animal Shelter on December 1, 2007. She was terrified, hiding in the back of the cage from the other dogs, and we could never put her in another cage the rest of her life. She was very anxious and had happy leaks every time I came home from school or work. The only way I could get her to go to the bathroom outside was to turn around and look the other way. Samus was never treat-motivated, but she loved chicken pie, homemade chicken tenders, and croissants. We have so many fond memories of her stealing our pie off the table or snorting and sitting down as heavily as possible for a handout.
Before moving away to start my adult life, Samus helped campaign and build support for Suzie’s Law. My future husband, Davidd, and Samus campaigned all over Guilford County, garnering support with Don Vaughan for animals that had been abused. The law was ratified in North Carolina in 2010, making anyone convicted of torturing an animal a Class H felon. We hope Samus’s legacy will live on through all the animals she helped give a better life.
As Samus grew older, she quickly became the companion I had always dreamed of— a dog that followed me everywhere, at the horse farm, on hikes, and on trips. Davidd and I got married, bought a house, and went on two road trips with our loyal companion. We camped all the way to Kansas City and Montreal and back together. Our favorite memories are of snuggling with Samus next to a campfire or lifting her over large rock formations to the top of a mountain. We saw hundreds of waterfalls, skunks, and raccoons. She famously rode in my backpack through Linville Caverns. She completed agility training, knew hundreds of words, and even learned to spell a few. At the horse farm, Samus raced alongside my horse, Moriah, and me through the forest and around the ring. She loved the freedom of running alongside us and exploring the world.
Samus was so strong, surviving five surgeries, and helped us through both grief and joy. We buried fur babies and loved ones in heaven together. We also welcomed our daughter, Clara, into the world just as Samus was entering her older years. At first, Clara and Samus were so jealous of each other, but quickly they learned to love, share, and play together. Our favorite memories are of long walks and playing in the snow. The cold weather always gave Samus a burst of youth, and even in her last days, she always wanted to play.
Though watching such a beloved companion grow old is never easy, she loved us deeply until the end. We cared for Samus for 18 years, a wonderful, long, and glorious life for such an amazing dog. She was a little black angel to us in so many ways. Now Samus is waiting for us at the Rainbow Bridge, and we hope you rest in peace, sweet girl.