Big Ryder’s Story
The story of how Ryder came to live with us is a
pretty simple story, but you have to know his story along with Miss Bella’s in
order to know about the little pups that are now in our lives.
Ryder’s story actually begins with Joe and my cousin
Tommy.
My cousin Tommy passed away quite suddenly, leaving
his dog Joe without anyone in the world. Joe was an Australian Shepherd and a
one man dog, he needed love and he needed a home. My dad told my Aunt that we
would take Big Joe, we had the land and we had the love. So Big Joe came to
live with us.
Joe may have started off as a one man dog…but after
a few weeks in our family, well he was everyone’s dog. He loved us all and we
dearly loved him. However he and my dad had a very special relationship. They
were always together. They had six wonderful years together before Big Joe
passed on from this life.
My dad’s heart was broken, and when a tough guy like
that cries…well all of us were hurting after losing our Joe.
A year after Joe, mom thought it was time for a new
addition to the family. Daddy needed a dog of his own. He missed Joe terribly…and
it was time for a new friend. We decided we would get him a puppy for Father’s
Day. It was a long and difficult search. We wanted a pup that looked a lot like
Big Joe, we wanted another Aussie. I searched and searched for months and
finally by August, I had found him.
It was a Sunday afternoon and my dad had gone blue
rock shooting with my husband when I found Ryder. It happened quite by accident
while searching Facebook but once I saw him…I knew. I showed his picture to Mom
who immediately told me that this was the one and I made the call. We could go
and pick him up tonight…in Nebraska…three hours away. Yeah…like we cared!
So once Dad got home we told him that this was his
father’s day gift (two months late!) and that we needed to go and get his pup.
That was the most exciting drive! The minute we got the puppy and Dad held him
and the little guy gave him a kiss…we knew we had done the right thing. Daddy
would never stop missing Joe…but he was going to love this little guy just as
much.
Ryder was such a good car rider that that is how his
name happened. He did so well in the car and still loves to go on car rides. He
is affectionate with all of us but he only has eyes for my dad. Best friends
for life, they are. 
Well Big Ryder is a registered Australian Shepherd;
beautiful boy has papers and everything. He’s gorgeous…and of course not fixed.
Which brings us to these three….
