Thread by @Joeinblack

He was found tied to a tree, along with another dog.
The other dog had died of starvation and he was close to it. He had been shot with numerous pellets, his tail was broken and a lot of his teeth were missing.
He was hours from death.
The Greater Hillsdale Human Society were having none of it. Slowly, gently, they rebuilt and strengthened his broken body.
I knew none of this.
All I knew is that Lonnie and I were going to GHHS to donate my dogs beds, food and toys.
As we were walking up to the door, a former student sent me a message. She told me she was praying for me and God told her that He was going to give me a remarkable gift that day.
I walked in just as they were walking a dog out. His head was down and he was slow walking when suddenly, he lifted his head, saw me and ran at me so hard and fast that the leash came out of the volunteers hand. I sat on the floor and he jumped on me, licking me and pushing me to the ground.
I just couldn't quit laughing.

They showed me videos of him from that day and many before: a broken hearted dog who didn't even lift his head, who shied away from human contact and who no one really picked as a result.
He picked me and I picked him. I named him Marius after a Roman General I was reading about at the time.
We went to the vet together and the amazing Dr. Taylor in Hudson, MI told me the same thing they did: let's just make sure we give him a great last few years of his life. I promised him and I promised Marius that his last few years would rock.
That was 8 years ago.

He was the most joyful, happy go lucky knucklehead of a dog I've ever had.
He loved stealing food, making out with strangers and crawling up on the laps of people who cried in my office.
He went crazy for truck rides, got beat up by a cat named Supper and was fairly certain the the UPS driver was trying to kill us all.
He loved to run.
Like no dog I ever had before, God made Marius to run.
His greatest accomplishments include the day he stole and ate an entire pizza and a cake and the time he stole and ate an entire three pound roast.
There's a lot to my life as a priest that centers around the toughest parts of human existence; a lot of death, a lot of sorrow and conflict.
Marius made each day better.

Today, he went home to God and my heart is full, but broken.
I thank Jesus for the gift of Marius and I thank God for all of you who loved him so and who helped me take care of him. Uncle Lonnie, Carrie, Alicia...so many folks who just loved on him.
We went to the chapel this morning and prayed like we did every morning. God will take care of him, though He’ll need to put a lock on the fridge in Heaven.

I'm so grateful for Doc Taylor and Doc Cocagne who cared for him, stuffed him full of treats and were always willing to tell me "He's fine, Father" whenever I hit the panic button because of whatever he stole and ate.
So, today is the end.
I stroked his hair, kissed his head, breathed a prayer of thanks and said goodbye.
I’ll miss you, Marius.