Hoshi (9/3/2003 – 12/7/2018)

It is with great sadness that we share that hospice foster, Hoshi, has passed away. Below is the eulogy his devoted foster, Mike, wrote for him:

Hoshi: September 3, 2003 – December 7, 2018
I have had dogs all my life. All manner of breeds: Irish Setter, German Shepherds, Labrador Retriever, Chow/Norwegian Elkhound, and for the last twelve years, Shiba Inus. All manner of personalities. All manner of colors. Then there was Hoshi. I have come to believe that there is something special about Cream Shibas. They seem to be a bit higher on the stubborn scale than most Shibas. Mr. Hoshi was, without a doubt, the most stubborn dog I have ever known. That is a compliment. It is what kept him going for fifteen years, in spite of what we believe may have been serious traumatic injury before we met him. He had damaged discs in his back, a screw in one front leg, arthritis in his shoulders and hips, degenerating strength in his hind legs. He never let it slow him down. When there was food involved, he was always first in line, ahead of his younger foster sisters. He had that, sometimes not to subtle, Cream Shiba sense of humor we have observed in others of that variety. He loved to give and receive affection, but of course on his terms. What he claimed as his, was his, even if it wasn’t. He loved to be around his people and would follow us anywhere we went in the house. If we were outside, Hoshi was outside. If we were inside, Hoshi was inside. He would fall asleep on his bed in the living room, then, during the night move to his bed in the bedroom. He was an early riser, who never modified his internal clock for daylight savings or standard time. When he though it was time for you to get up to feed him or let him out, he would flip the covers with his nose or grab them and tug, just enough to wake you. He enjoyed rides in the car. He enjoyed going to the vet’s. He enjoyed finding canine message boards and leaving his own message for those who followed. He liked to stop and smell the flowers. He enjoyed being in the sun. He was with us for only a bit over five months and came to us as a hospice foster. He added out hearts to those things he claimed as his own. He made friends wherever he went. He will be missed.