Memories of Dylan Stephen: A Westie Now in the Land Beyond: Walking Such a Great Joy!

I am running with a pack of West Highland Terriers in The Land Beyond. We chase mechanical rats and a whole host of rodents up big hills, in gullies and forests. Mechanical as no creature here can be hurt. We usually run after our breakfast. It takes my mind off what I left behind before I died.

A puppy named Angus was run over by a car and not having much life experience asked me why I loved my walks so much. The whole gang here knows how much I loved to walk. In fact while I had at least twenty nicknames in The Land Beyond” my nickname is “The Walker”. The poor pup asked me why I loved walking. It isn’t that easy. Perhaps it is instinctual? It is part of a Westie soul?

Now on the practical level it is exercise and good for our health. Our “bodily excretions” act as messages to other dogs that we have “been here”. Again I think it is instinctual. And yes we do the same thing here in The Land Beyond.

I loved walking in our neighbourhood as it was my community of brothers and sisters. Not that all was in harmony. I hated that Golden Lab Tanner and he hated me. He smelt aggressive and mean.

But my all-time favourite was the Don Valley Golf Course in Toronto of course when it was closed to golfers. I loved walking in a snowstorm and in the late fall and spring. There were dogs but only a handful. There were ducks, turtles, foxes, deer, snakes, falcons and coyotes (stay away!). And off went my leash. FREEDOM!

I also loved the Belt Line Trail in Toronto. A beautiful shaded trail in the heart of Toronto. The crazy law-breaking cyclists really aggravated all us dogs. Lucky I was not run over by those crazy speedsters. Again it was an all season walk unless it became too icy in the winter.

Sherwood Park in Toronto was also a favourite of mine and I loved the off-leash trail in the forest with ups and downs and nice benches to relax. Three months prior to my death it was the site of my last long walk.

The Stephen Family will be spreading my ashes in these three favourite haunts of mine.

I dearly loved Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake. The roar of the Falls and the mist on my face was unforgettable.

Master Robert was adamant about ensuring frequent walks which I was always up to except in those “last days”. As he used to say, “A tired dog is a happy dog!”. No truer words were spoken!