Biography: We were devastated on March 13th by the loss of our sweet, odd dog Huntley, who was due to turn fourteen on the 19th. Although you probably wouldn't guess it from looking at her sad eyes and neurotic behavior, Huntley was a precious girl with a strong appreciation for the little things. She loved to close her eyes and sniff fresh air, sleep in front of open windows and screen doors, lie in sunny spots, explore decks and kitchens with her nose and tongue, roll around on her back in the grass, scratch her back on bushes, and bury her nose in my stomach or shoulder and nuzzle me to say hi. Huntley was terrified of flashes of any kind, cameras (due to their association with flashes), storms, a certain threshold she had to cross, and sometimes the fierce meal-time theft of our other Lab, Max. Her tail was frequently tucked so tightly under her body that it was barely even visible! She tended to leave rooms as soon as they got too noisy or became filled with too many people; she preferred to sleep in a dark, quiet bedroom or at the top of the stairs, where she could listen to what was going on but avoid any chaos. Extremely gentle and calm, Huntley was not pushy about getting attention, tending to relent and let Max take the spotlight at all times. However, she really appreciated being brushed, having her ears scratched, or just being petted calmly during some one-on-one time. Arthritis made walking painfully difficult for her at times, but she was so quiet and quirky that I'm not sure it made a big difference in her routine. Huntley's subtle shows of care and love -- following me around, leaning her head against my leg, standing next to my mother's bed to be petted at night -- made her sensitivity and seriousness all the more endearing to me and others, even if she often came across as inscrutable or sad. The sound of her letting out a very low sigh (or "purr") when she was relaxed or happy, the sight of her trotting swiftly toward the food cabinet in the mornings in sharp contrast to her slow demeanor, and the feeling of her nose pressed against my chest in shy affection -- these and other memories have made Huntley one of the most beautiful, sweetest creatures in my life.

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