Franz was perhaps the happiest puppy we ever had as a family. He bounced into our lives, especially those of 8-year old Elizabeth and 3-year old Quinn, neither of whom had ever known life without big dogs - their previous lab “Deke”, named after “Right Stuff” astronaut Deke Slayton, had died the previous month, and his companion dog “Cosima” was lonely and needed a new golden lab.
We got Franz from a friend – a family in an especially fancy part of town, with French architecture, vast rooms, a backyard the size of a city park, and a castle-sized fountain - all backed up to the posh River Oaks Country Club. We told Franz he’d be slumming it, relatively, in his new home – although it was an ideal place for a dog, with a vast yard, gardens, a swimming pool – and of course Cosima (known as “Cosi”).
Franz learned the ropes of being a “guard dog” at Cosi’s side, eagerly running after his big sister as she rocketed from one side of the house, around back, to the other, in order to continue barking at whomever might be walking their dog past our house. And Cosi, in turn, loved having such a cute admirer following her everywhere she went.
He never learned to be an expert swimmer and diver like his predecessor had been, and could barely catch a tennis ball – although he could, usually, catch bacon.
In his last year, his back legs became weaker, making it difficult for him to climb stairs or his favorite hill at the ranch. But he never got frustrated: he would just wag his tail as if to say “ooo, I’m happy, and I’d like to come over there and be with you, I sure would!”
And about six months before the end, he contended with an aggressive tumor, which caused our vet to suggest bringing Elizabeth home from college immediately to say her goodbye. We all think the loving attention Franz got in that scary period (including much bacon, bones, and other treats) might account for the miraculous total recovery of that particular ailment a few weeks later. Even though we all knew he was an old dog and would not be with us much longer, we all knew that we as a family, and he as a dog, had experienced a priceless communication of mutual love and the goodbye we all want to remember.
In his final weeks, we told Franz about his future trip to outer space. We’re not entirely sure he understood, but he did cherish the engagement of his loved “brother and sister” – Quinn and Elizabeth – as they reassured him that he would, in the end, rest among the stars.
Franz embodied what we all feel when we gaze at the stars - hope and wonder - and spread those feelings everywhere he went.
