Shylo Price

Shylo Price

“Stinker Winker Bean”

May 1999 to June 14, 2014

HOW SHYLO STOLE OUR HEARTS

I can home from work one evening when my husband tells me that someone dumped 4 little puppies at the church behind us.  I asked immediately where are those 4 pups?  We found 1 male puppy mostly brown barking at the gate to the kid’s playground.  That little boy guarding his sister resembles the 2 other male pups.  We went inside the playground.  I looked inside the plastic playhouse and this little black female puppy was not able to put weight on one of her back paws.  When I lifted up that little black female pup, she smiled as if to know we were there to take care of them.  The same male pup that had been protecting her was still guarding his sister.  I was able to get them to my vet’s office the next morning for vaccinations and medicines to help with the black female’s paw. 

The pups were estimated to be around 4-5 weeks old.  We introduced that liter to our full grown dogs, Frosty, American Eskimo who had no use for little dogs/pups.  Our other dog was a year old, Maverick, a lab/Rhodesian Ridgeback mix adopted from local rescue group when he was a pup a year earlier.

The 4 pups stuck to Maverick and knew very quickly what was inside and what was not to be brought inside the house.  Maverick put more time into the girl, Missy and her protector, Shylo.  My parents fell in love with Missy and adopted her.  We decided that our furry family was not complete with Frosty, Maverick and now Shylo. 

Why the name Shylo you ask?  Because he looked just like a German Shepherd, but he was so very Shy.  So we decided that he was to be given a special name and spelling. “SHYLO”  He joined our family and fit right in.  Shylo seemed to have Separation Anxiety quite bad.  We tried some meds, but in the long run, Prozac helped him to not freak out and feel safe at home with his 2 other canine companions.  Maverick a year older than the pups became their dad/mom and taught them so many qualities and fun ways. 

Shylo and Maverick would go to his human grandparents (my parents) to visit with Missy and their Siberian Husky over the years.  Sadly Missy, Shylo’s sister got sick and passed away over 2 and a half years ago. Shylo loved to sleep on the bed up by the pillows each night.  When our Maverick was no longer able to jump on the bed, Shylo made a point to check on him and then go and get comfortable on the bed. 

In the past year, we saw Shylo no longer being dominant over Maverick who is a lab and much larger than Shylo’s 28 lbs.  Shylo started to follow and stay close to Maverick.  His hearing and sight slowly started to slip away.  His movements to get to the front door in wait for a ride in the car took more effort.  But he still loved those drives with his momma.  Just him and momma driving around and hanging out with each other and very few words were said.

Shylo lived a very long and Blessed life with our family.  He was by our side through all of our attempts to become pregnant.  After much work and money, and IVF, I became pregnant with Caleb.  We didn’t know if Shylo would accept Caleb.  The fear that he would push this baby away so he could be close to me was a strong worry.  God Blessed us with Shylo taking care of Caleb.  No one could being involved with Caleb without first be ok by me and the dogs.

We adopted a 9 week 6 pound female puppy, Tia Bella.  She was introducted to Shylo and he was hurting and tired and didn’t get to spend very much quality time together.  Bella loved Shylo, but with him going deaf, loosing sight, and pain from his joints, he was struggling. 

In case you wonder why we called him Stinky Bean (Stinker Winkder Bean), he loved to roll in bird boop early on and was dubbed that name.

We thank Dr. Dryden at Brookville Road Animal Hospital for all of the wonderful care he and the girls have given Shylo and Maverick!!