A Memorial for Phil: Traveler, Day Tripper, Best Buddy!

In his time, Phil S. had quite a career as a basketball, football, hockey, and soccer player.  Because of his natural ability to trip other players, he was a top defense pick in two-on-two basketball games. Not so good at shots, but the neighborhood teenagers recognized the low-rider’s talent and often came knocking with an invitation to play.

(Take THAT, Air Bud!)

Mom Georgie Lin says floppy-eared Phil joined the family at nine months-old. “He was quite large even then and was easily 35 pounds.  His breeder had named him Buster, but when he came to live with us he became Phil, after Prince Philip and the filibuster (“Philibuster”) happening at the time in the U.S. Senate.” 

“I wanted an older pup — six months old — big enough that my young son couldn’t lift him. The wait for Phil became longer when we had a major car accident that delayed the adoption.”

 “Just as our puppy was ready to make his way to our home, the breeder called to say that Phil sustained a serious ear chew at the hands of a littermate … and did we still want him?”

“We did, and Phil fit perfectly in our family.  He became a fast favorite in the neighborhood too, partly because he was so good with kids.”

“With his habit of inviting his friendly self to all the nearby barbeques, Phil helped us meet people in our new neighborhood.  He’d quietly saunter over and lie down under a chair, just in case a burger or hot dog might accidentally drop. As the only dog around, he became a familiar, welcome face.” 

“When he reached the age of five or so, Phil began gaining weight like crazy.  No matter how much he exercised, he gained and gained.  I tried every dog food PetSmart had and nothing was working.  When he reached 70 pounds I was desperate for help, and got lucky when a friend mentioned the raw diet.  I was skeptical at first, but one frustrating day I finally bought some meat and took it home for Phil.  He loved it — real food!  Within two weeks on the raw diet I had a new dog.  Running, playing, going up stairs again … he was on this diet for the rest of his life, as are all my dogs.”

 With “sister” Winnie.

“In my experience, perks of the raw diet include never having to use flea and tick preventatives, no matter where you live;  the dog becomes naturally immune and doesn’t pick them up.  The diet also put an end to picking up backyard poop, because it dissolves in 4+ days, fertilizing your grass in the process.  The diet eliminated skin problems and allergies, gave Phil more energy, and adjusted his weight.  On a raw diet, Phil looked and acted younger.” 

“I have horses, and Phil always came with me when I rode.  He’d follow me everywhere, no matter what the terrain or weather. I sometimes had to lock him in the tack room so he couldn’t go. My horse Chomper was a golden color, like Phil.  If I was going around the outside of large paddock, Phil would follow in our tracks, as opposed to my other Corgi who quickly learned to sit in the middle and watch me.  Phil was so funny about this. I always knew wherever I was, he was following me on the way to somewhere.”  

No kid, not the EAR!

“My buddy got to travel with us and our racehorses to tracks all over Canada and the United States. We lived in Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and Kentucky.  He was a well known dude everywhere we went.”

 

 “In May of last year, Phil lost his battle with what we discovered was a cancerous tumour in his urinary tract.  He fought it for over a year before they could do no more for him.  I feel up to writing about him as the pain has lessened some, but I still miss him.”