MR. BOWSER

On December 15, Stephanie's beautiful dog Sherman (AKA Mr. Bowser) passed away at the age of 11 years, 4 months (very old age, for a shar-pei).

I met Bowser a year and a half ago.  He was kind of intimidating.  He wasn't particularly cuddly.  But after time he got to know me and allowed me to touch him, then pet him, then feed him some chicken.  That last part was the big turning point in our relationship!

He liked it when I'd take him for walks, he'd jump up and down while I got the leash ready, and he liked it when I cooked.  The first time I finger-fed him I was amazed at how gentle he really was, taking the food from my hands softly with his gums.

He liked to bark at me when I came in, and then once he saw it was me, his eyes would light up and his tail would wag like crazy.  Just a few months ago I was coming up the stairs and he let me rub him under his chin, his big droopy jowls, which were warm, soft, and dry.  He didn't mind.

When Stephanie was out, he would visit with me, and sleep on his office bed while I typed on the computer.

Everywhere you went, Bowser's breathing was somewhere in the background.  He liked to snort.  The last few weeks he snored a lot.  It's hard to get used to not hearing him there all the time, not having to say "Stay" when I go downstairs temporarily, to spare him the trip up and down-- because he'd follow us wherever we went.

Sherman "Mr. Bowser" Dorman

August 22, 2001 - December 15, 2012