Teddy Was Here

Teddy Was Here  

This is the story of a dog named Teddy. I got word that he died earlier today. It was all of a sudden with a type of tumor that happens with Golden Retrievers. At this point in the game, I should probably be more accustomed to these situations but I am not. It was a tough txt message and email to get. If you rescue dogs long enough you are going to run across a few that you have a real connection with and it is difficult to let somebody else adopt them and it is even harder when you hear that they have passed on. Teddy had amazing parents. I met them because they adopted Teddy. I know they are as upset as I am. He was only here in Vegas for a short 3 years but like the great philosopher, Garth Brooks said one time. “I could have missed the pain but I would have had to miss the dance.” So here is another chapter in the book of puppy adventures. First draft, uncut, that is the best way to do it.  

The story of Teddy starts for me on August 25th, 2018. I left Vegas and drove to Amarillo to meet a guy from the Oklahoma City Golden Retriever Rescue that drove over to meet me partway. Teddy was a storm dog that was terrified of thunderstorms. He had been locked up for 5 years after his original owner died. The Oklahoma rescue had picked him up and he had been in the hospital for a while recovering from a storm-related incident.  When I got to Amarillo I met him at a local Holiday Inn Express and got him settled in so we could get ready and leave the next morning and head back to Vegas. A thunderstorm came in that night around 10 pm. Teddy was terrified so I put him up on the bed and covered him with a blanket so he would feel safe. One of my other dogs was like this and it helped with Teddy. I cuddled up next to him and talked to him so he would calm down and he did after a little bit.  

The next morning we got up and left around 6 am. As I was headed down the feeder road of Interstate 40, I spotted a What-a-Burger. I looked over at Teddy. He seemed to indicate that he needed some puppy fries for breakfast. So we did a u-turn at the next exit and went thru the drive-thru. If you have never seen a dog enjoy french fries you really should try it sometime. Teddy’s eyes got really wide after the first one like it was the most amazing flavor he had ever tasted in his life. He would patiently wait for me to get him another fry and each one seem to be better than the previous according to Teddy. I also got him a  puppy burger as a snack after he finished his french fries. I was his new best buddy after that first food stop.  

Teddy was a good traveler. He sat up in the front seat for a while, then he would move back to the back seat and take a nap. He would sit up in the seat and look out the window as we drove down the freeway. We got out and walked around when I would stop for gas.  Every place we stopped he would seem to draw a crowd as I walked him around. Yes, I  am the guy that takes the dog to the truck stop. Kids would come up to him and scratch his ears and talk to him. He loved his fans. He took a lot of pictures with a lot of people that I am sure ended up on Facebook somewhere.  

We spent about an hour at a truck stop in Albuquerque because so many kids wanted to talk to Teddy and take pictures. This particular truck stop on the west side of the city had a huge grass yard so I let him run around and play with the kids that ran over to see him.  The parents that came running over laughing at their kids chasing a golden retriever were just as funny and I talked to a lot of people and told them the story of Teddy up to that point. I swear if Teddy could have signed autographs he would. He was a Rock Star.  

I always stop in Flagstaff whenever I am driving that way so I did the same thing with  Teddy. I stopped at one of the local parks and let him run around a minute and then we  headed to Sonic for some dinner. I took a picture of him in the front seat of the truck helping me order him some puppy fries and a puppy burger. There were a bunch of college kids sitting around the table and when I pulled up in the truck and they saw  Teddy they ran over to see him. Again, he loved his fans.  

After we got to Vegas I introduced him to my other puppies and everybody got along great. Teddy was glued to my side everywhere I went. Naturally, he was nervous and did not understand everything that was going on. He hung out in my office and slept on the couch the first night. The second night he wanted to sleep next to me so I helped him up on the bed, got him a couple of pillows and he started snoring almost immediately.  

The day I took Teddy to the vet for his checkup, his future parents met me there. I told them the story of bringing him to Vegas and they asked a lot of questions. One question was in regards to what I had been feeding him. I said that he had been on “Uncle Michael  Time” so he had been eating burgers and fries with me so whatever correct diet they wanted to start him on would be ok. Teddy’s new parents were overjoyed to have him.  They had recently adopted another puppy so Teddy would have a friend to play with at home.  

Since we did not do any events in 2020, the only pictures I have are from the Bass Pro events from 2018 and 2019. I am glad we have those. I look back and see the people and puppies that are no longer here. Teddy is in a lot of the pictures. His mom made custom bandanas for him and all his friends at the events to wear. He was a good ambassador for the rescue. Teddy was also our poster puppy for Christmas Gift Wrap in 2018 and 2019. I  think I still have one of those in the warehouse. I guess I need to get it framed now.  

Haley and Justin. I am heartbroken about Teddy. He was a good puppy. If it was not for him I would probably not know you and that would be a shame and I would also not have a new nickname. Godspeed Teddy – “Uncle Mike”  

Michael W. Shappley  

Teddy Was Here – Notes on Teddy from Oklahoma.pdf 08/19/2021 Page 2 of 2