Tribute to a loyal dog

To The Eagle:

It is with a sad and heavy heart that I write this letter.

My husband came home with the news today that the "guardian of the mountain" had passed recently. I'm sure most other drivers were at least aware of him because of his sheer size and beauty! I know that we, for one, noticed him and looked for him anytime we headed over KM Mountain. He would lay there in the yard, sometimes closer towards the road where the ground sloped up, so as to have a resting place for his massive head, all the while lazily watching traffic go by.

We got a mastiff a couple of years back and when my husband would come home, he'd say "I saw your brother today!" We were concerned if we didn't see him, watchful if we went by after dark and all in all, just enjoyed seeing such a magnificent dog, doing his duty and guarding the property as that breed was meant to do.

Which is apparently how he lost his life, protecting his master's property. I don't personally know the specifics, I'm sure it would make me sick if I did. I can only imagine the pain the owner is going through and my thoughts and prayers go out to you! I hope they can slap some extra abuse charges on the lowlife who was responsible, as even that is too good for him!

So I write this letter in his memory and as a tribute to the "guardian of the mountain," the loyal KM Dog as he was known to us. You will surely be missed by many but most of all by your grieving master.

Brian and Tracy Arness

Cathlamet