This photo of Samantha and Toffee’s first and only encounter was taken just over a year ago, a month before Toffee died. Six weeks before Samantha died.
For those who knew Toffee, this greeting was a shock. Any dog that was bigger than Toffee was viewed as a threat, and in his desire protect me, he always growled or barked enough to keep the other dog away.
At the time I remember being surprised and confused as to why there was no alpha display, but I also had no idea that Toffee and Samantha were both struggling in silence with their illnesses. Walks were shorter because Toffee was easily out of breath. I assumed it was his congestive heart failure, not knowing that he cancer growing in his liver and lungs.
After Toffee then Samantha died, as I was looking back through my photos I was reminded of that particular greeting. I realized that they were comforting each other. Experiencing pain helps one look at the world through different eyes.
Or maybe Toffee was just too tired to complain about a larger dog crossing his path.
Reflections 