Apollo was a pure breed white German Shepard. I still have his chain and his picture is probably one of the most dear things to me and my past.
Apollo was my first love for dogs. He was a dog with a sense of humor and a wicked personality that I have yet to see in another animal. He was the smartest dog I’d even met in terms of plain out personality. He’d look at you and it seemed like he knew what you were thinking and sometimes, just sometimes you could tell what he was thinking. He’d get mad and bark at you if you didn’t do what he wanted. He’d look at you if you looked at him. He wouldn’t go to the bathroom with you watching…and for the most part.. he was one of those dogs that didn’t need a leash…for the most part.
I was introduced to Apollo almost at birth, him being about a year old upon my birth.. We basically grew up together. Me in my younger years even riding him, much like a horse. He was my trusty steed and partner in crime, since every single child knows.. You have to have someone to blame if something was to break.
Well Apollo was well mannered in the ways of dogs.. He didn’t bark unless it was a stranger, he didn’t cut any slack to the mailman after he was maced by him, and when he looked at you.. you knew he was thinking...planning…scheming.
Apollo learned at an early age the mechanics of things. He’d open a door with his mouth, drink beer out of the bottle and even steal steaks off the grill (by knocking the grill over and stealing the steak from the coals and carnage…
He had a real knack for getting away from you. He would play non-chalet, even pretend to be taking a poop so you’d look away, so he could make a run for the gate. More than a few times we would have to track him for several miles if we were lucky. others. Just wait for the return..
He did get hit once by a car… a couple of stitches and a concussion taught him the tough lesson of cars..
He wouldn’t go near cars after he’d been hit on Atlantic Ave…he knew the lesson we all learn, Hopefully.
Apollo lasted for quite a few years.. and led a quite happy life.. he died unfortunately of pneumonia after he’d broken his hip and couldn’t move around much.. well. We put him down at the age of 13 (I think.)
We buried Apollo behind the hedges of our patio on 45th street. It was one of his favorite digging spots. Hope to see him again someday.

08/22/2004

Author's Note: eh, a little homage to my first dog.

Posted on 08/23/2004
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