I'll never forget the day Beau brought Dexter home. I was napping on the couch and I woke to the sound of little claws clicking around on the kitchen floor. I got up and saw Dexter for the first time. I must admit I was taken aback...he was behaving strangely and he had been shaved. It didn't take but a few minutes before I fell in love. He had been rescued from the streets when he was 3 by our vet. He was agressive and had been mistreated. He fur was matted, he had heartworms and was underweight. He just needed a family to love him and we needed a dog to love. Dexter was not just any dog. Most people didn't understand him. There were several people who loved Dexter and who he loved as well. He knew who was a dog lover and who wasn't. He was our protection, our friend, our "son", our "brother, our comfort, our stress, our first try at parental responsibility and the presence of unconditional love in our house. There are countless Dexter stories in the almost 10 years that we had him. The one story that I've recounted in my head so many times since he passed is the time he saved Grant's life....at least in my estimation. Avery was a baby. Grant, Avery and I went down for our afternoon nap. Something we did every day. Grant always slept and never got out of his bed but to tell me he was up. This one particular afternoon, I forgot Dexter outside (and I thank God). I made sure Grant was asleep, locked the door and layed down with the baby. About 45 minutes into my nap, I heard Dexter barking like crazy....but that was common for him to bark, what was uncommon was the way he was barking. It was a different pitch, a different way, and incessant. I reluctantly got up to bring him in before he woke the kids. When I went to the door, I found Grant on his tricycle at the road. Dexter knew he was out there and it wasn't right and he was trying to get my attention to protect this little member of his "pack." One cannot imagine my state at that moment. Between my upset over Grant and my immense gratefullness for Dexter, I was quite a case of emotions. We learned two lessons after that day: 1. always deadbolt the door for naps and 2. Dexter had a "get out of jail free" card for the remainder of his life. For the rest of his life when he got himself into trouble we reminded ourselves of that day. Beau wasn't real hip on the idea of getting a dog but let me tell you he was as much Beau's best friend as he was mine....if not more. Over the last year as Dexter's health has declined, every time we opened the gate coming home we held our breath waiting for him to bark and this time, he didn't....and I knew in my heart he was gone. We miss him immensely. I cannot express the sadness and grief in our hearts over this dog whom we loved and won our hearts. He would have done anything to protect us. Beau said, he loved our family and he protected our family...he did his job and he was able to die knowing his did his job and he did it well. We will always have a special place in our hearts for Dexter and no other dog will ever replace him. We love you Dexter, Dexy, Tebwezz, Port-o-Mack, Ft. Smith, Forto Gregory and our hearts ache in your absence.