Dog’s lives are too short. Their only fault, really. -Agnes Sligh Turnbull

“Detroit died. I don’t know what happened-if he got rat poison or what, but he’s gone.” My dad’s emotional voice message this morning filled my heart with great sorrow.

Detroit Snappenbarker Mendoza was the best Ol boy. We told him often- but he truly was. He was a mutt who joined our farm by default and took over management immediately. I think it was the second day on the farm, that he disappeared and after we called and called- a little fat black blur came hustling up from the calf barn- he was working his rounds making sure everything was accounted for.

Mother says it took a year and a half until he convinced her that he had a brain-but he was a good dog pretty much straight out the gate.

Detroit loved to ride on any piece of equipment-but if riding wasn’t an option he’d just run along side and manage.

He even wrote a blog or two. 😂

He took the move from the dairy to Singers Glen in stride and took over managing Airbnb guests with the same zeal that he had policed dairy traffic.

Faithful, Dependable, Persistent (if you dared stop petting him before he decided you were done-he’d tap on you with his paw until you’d pet him again) Energetic, Friendly… He could articulate emotion and understood English quite well. Don’t you dare mention going “on the truck” if you had no intentions of a passenger.

A good dog is truly man’s best friend and Detroit loved our family perfectly.

Almost 13 years is a long time for a dog, but it was still way to soon.

Thursday evening we had family night at the pond and Detroit was “fishing” beside the dock and splashing water loudly. I jumped his case for scaring all the fish away. I’m sorry, Ol Pal. 🥹

Father and the twins dug a hole with the high hoe and we loving laid our pup to rest. Seeing us cry is hard for a 3 year old to understand. “I don’t yike it to die. I want it to stand up and say ‘woof!’” Me too Isaiah, me too.

You were the best, Ol Boy. Thanks for all the memories and for your faithful service. We sure do love you.

I’m glad that God in his wisdom created an animal that can be such a perfect companion. And even if we’re a little teary today and questioning whether it actually is worth it- being loved by a good dog is such a gift.

And our family was well gifted. Rest in Peace, Detroit Snappenbarker Mendoza.

Kendra and the rest of the Horst family