He blew into our lives on a whirlwind. Part Rat Terrier, part duck. Black and white spots – skinny, growling, scared, cautiously wagging his tail. Not sure of the world, but we quickly warmed to each other. And he found a home.

Our little black dog, gracious, loving and full of soft flowing fur, moved over and shared his kingdom with the young intruder. In the six months that Duck lived with us, he grew into a genuinely happy dog with boundless energy. Gentle with all dogs, he became the puppy that our older dog never had.

But Duck had wandered a tough road before he found us. He learned that humanity was no friend. Fear was his close companion, accompanied with teeth – a trait that damned him to exclusion. And finally, to life itself.

In our little abode, Duck was shielded from all this. Duck smiled, always wagging his tail. He was affectionate, living to please the two humans that saw in him a soliloquy of life – never perfect, and raw around the edges.

Duck left as he came. In an instant. Gracing our lives no more. Leaving us with happy memories that will never fill the hole in our hearts.