People, I have found, are amazing - almost as much as Harris was. I wanted to share some of the emails I have received:

Dear Dakota,

Hank and I are on the board of Pet Helpers, which is the only no-kill shelter in the tri-county area.  Obviously, we are devoted to our animals and the cause of Pet Helpers. 

Your tribute was so incredibly touching, bringing tears to our eyes and memories of our dog, Cider, whom we just adored.  We have all lost precious companions, and we know how much it breaks your heart.

Always in search of people who care the way we do about our companions, we wanted you to know that there are many of us who share your love of our four footed babies.

Hank and I will be making a donation to Pet Helpers in memory of "Mr. Harris".

Thank you for sharing your beautiful memories and tribute.

Best regards,
Laurel & Hank Greer

Although we didn't know each other well, his enthusiasm and gentle spirit were evident every time we met.  As I sit here writing to you, Bear (one of our three cats), is licking my feet.  I know the level of companionship you two shared will be deeply and greatly felt.  Your tribute to him on your website is truly touching. I can only hope for some solace for you and Jack and Bella.  I know healing will not be quick.  Ten years of constant and soulful companionship are not easily relinquished.  As much of a healer as Harris was, I am sure he wouldn't want you to suffer long in his absence.  May his memory warm your heart and fill you with the love he truly felt for you.  Love, Kirsten

What a beautiful spirit Harris was, bringing so much joy and love to everyone he came in contact with. I'm so glad Poo Bear and LuLu and I got to see him on Wednesday. Like you with Harris, Poo Bear has been my constant companion for almost 9 years. My tears come from knowing how strong that love and connection was between you two and what a huge hole his passing will leave.

Yes, while you will have the biggest hole over his departure many of us will miss him. Today I keep seeing his white pink belly. He always made me feel special when I came to visit as he showed such excitement with visitors, always greeting us with his smile. And if people say dogs can't smile they did not know Harris-he smiled a lot.  We will miss him but haven't we all been the better for knowing him-he  was a great spirit.

I am so sad for you and all of us to lose just an amazing dog. Think how blessed you were for him to come into your life. I am sure his little spirit will always be with you and he will be waiting for you when you go to the other side one day.

It has taken me some time after reading your Email and seeing Harris's memorial on the website to be able to write a response.  My heart is broken, and at the same time, I am smiling.  Thank you for sharing your incredible soul with me and making me happy seeing the photo collection of my friend and her excellent companion.  I am fortunate to have shared time on this earth with Harris and I look forward to spending time with him again.  I'm sure his sweet soul is part of the air we breathe.  Breathe deeply.

He was such a sweet dog and was so fun.  It was a very nice tribute that you had of Harris on the website.  Harris was so lucky to have a mom like you who took him on all sorts of great outings.  I know you will miss him and again, I just want to let you know that I am thinking about you.  It is so hard to lose a pet, because they are so loyal and are our best friends.  Harris was great to sit for.  He just wanted to go for walks and play Hide and Seek. 

What an incredible life you two had together. So many people live their lives in fear or complacency, never venturing beyond the safe boundaries of familiarity. But you and Harris were two intrepid souls who chose to live life to the fullest. I don't know why you've been separated so soon, but I know you were brought together to give each other the life you could never have had without each other.

I know how hard this is for you and how much Harris means to you, but you will always carry him with you on your new adventures in your heart and memories.  I understand when you say he was your child, in every way he was other than the birth part.  I would have like to have seen that!  I'm anxious to hear from you.  I love you tons Sis.

I can't even imagine how devastated you are at losing your boy.  Mikey and I still talk about what a great dog "Teeter" was and how much he will be missed.

Oh, my, Dakota, my heart goes out to you. I feel your sorrow. I know how much you loved Mr. Harris, and how much he meant to you. I’ll always remember him greeting me, tail wagging, when we’d get together to paint hands. Even though, his name was Mr. Harris, I’ll always remember him as my Mr. Whipple.
 

The Resting Spots for Harris

In the same way he lived his life, so will he be buried - one adventure after another. With his ashes, he will return to some of his favorite hikes and new areas I would have wanted him to share with me. His first place:

Isle of Harris, Scotland

I was able to scatter half of Mr. Harris last Monday (June 25th)  in the place I had anticipated. The day began with a few rainbows which  seemed like a good omen! We then approached the beach (which is just a short  walk from the cottage) and the storm clouds were gathering rather
 dramatically over the hills. The wind was quite fierce but I climbed up the rocks  and was able to find a large crevice which means he is safely in the depths of  the earth just there (I didn't want him blowing away to the four corners of  the earth!).  I  was able to find a Harris rock for you as well. Must get some sand when I  am there in September and you can make your own Harris beach! _ Joanne

Joanne - Words will never express my gratitude for your presence both in scattering my Grandma's ashes and now Harris. You are truly a gift. Thank you my friend. I am so glad I found you that day, long ago, when searching for my own answers about Scotland! (For those of you interested, Joanne has an incredible website with anything you ever need to know about Scotland if you plan on visiting:
http://www.scotland-info.co.uk/

Nantahala River, North Carolina
August 30, 2007

This was my first camping and kayaking trip without my little buddy. Rose and I kayaked down the Nantahala, each in our own boat but never far apart. The entire trip we had a butterfly following us  - always within reach. I had scattered Harris' ashes in my boat and for 9 miles, the rapids slowly washed him away. It was a beautiful day, a bittersweet journey on a river that carried both of us one last time.

I went out one day looking for a desk ... came home with Harris instead!

Couldn't keep him out of the water ... ever!

I'm always asked, and yes - he did it on his own. I had just planted those flowers too ... but he was so damn cute I couldn't be mad!

As a pup he ran with the big dogs, however, the dog on the right is a min pin - the size of a large Chihuahua .. that's how small Harris used to be!

Hiking, camping, backpacking, canyoneering, kayaking, climbing, mtn. biking, quad riding, sledding ... we did it all. Harris and I have experienced over 50 places together in 5 different states over 9 years. He and I have seen more, done more, experienced so much ... he was truly an adventure dog.

Sharing a sandwich and cantaloupe, odd but true.

For both of us, the kayak was by far our favorite place to be. He sometimes would jump out and swim along side me for a bit, get back in and return to his "throne".

These were taken just a few weeks ago on our last kayak trip, Stono River. Everything is in hindsight, I am so grateful we did one last trip.

Even the best of the adventure dogs had to be carried out of a hike once in awhile due to an injury. Oddly, he always picked the most strenuous hikes to get injured!

I told you, he's done it all!

Photo on right, look closely, he's in there ... this is Siphon Draw - a 2,000 foot climb in less than 1/4 mile. At some places we have to hand Harris over to each other to keep going. He did it though, he did this hike about 5 times in his life. The photos of him on top with city far below is the top of this hike.

Harris loves his Bella - they spent close to 5 years together.

Then came Jack ...

A perfect day to relax a the beach ...

However, I forgot to warn Harris about ...

High Tide!

Okay, so maybe he didn't dress himself but he sure was a good sport about it!

Some of the people who loved Harris, and some of the people Harris loved!

Old Soul

Harris and I found this butterfly in the surf, dying. We cleaned the sand off it's wings and he let it sit on his back until it's wings dried and he could fly away.

Nanna made me do it ....

One of many Arizona sunsets we shared

Harris could sleep anywhere, and adored being covered up and tucked in!

Toys ... loved stuffed animals, loved making me vacuum all the stuffing off the floor!

Goodbye dear friend, you are missed.

Top

aka

White Dawg
Baby Boy
Hairy Monster
Adventure Dog
Mr. Whipple
Tater Tot
Teeter
Harris

Places Harris and I have either explored, kayaked, hiked, camped, canyoneered, biked, climbed, backpacked or had some type of adventure:

Siphon Draw
Devils Canyon
The Jug, Salome Wilderness
Pumphouse Wash
Flat Iron
Little Beaver Creek
Parker Canyon
Haunted Canyon
Apache Mesa
Four Peaks
Seven Sacred Pools
Slide Rock
Grass Canyon
Walnut Canyon
Secret Canyon
Coffee Pot Trail
Cathedral Rock
Secret Mtn.
Black Mesa
Reavis Ranch
Tortilla Flats Creek
Mogollon Rim
West Clear Creek
San Francisco Peaks
Boynton Canyon
Jerome
Weaver's Needle
Oak Creek Canyon
Hog Canyon
Hieroglyphic Canyon
Fossil Creek
Joshua Tree
Bell Rock
Fish Creek Canyon
Camelback Mtn
McDowell Mtns
Bartlett Lake
Canyon Lake
Salt River
Jones Gap
Pisgah Forest
Twin Falls
Saluda
Venice Beach
Rincon Beach
Seaward Ave Beach
Santa Barbara Beach
Folly Beach
Beachwalker Park
Sullivan's Island
 

 
Favorite Snack
Yogurt

Favorite Toy
Stuffed Animals

Favorite Adventure
Kayaking

Favorite Place
On Mom's pillow when she wasn't home, Om Body Office, and Pumphouse Wash

Favorite Playmate
Maggie (Meg's dog) and Jack

Funniest Story (now anyway)
The story about his kidnapping - at 4 months old Harris was kidnapped with a ransom by some high school students.

Oddest Thing
He wasn't crazy about fetch however, he LOVED to dive for rocks - he would go underwater and wouldn't come up until he had a rock in his mouth.

    Incredible Moments
Saving a butterfly

Watching him actually "take in" the beauty whenever we hiked.

Hiking Pumphouse during a storm once and having him help me as I carried another dog out of the hike.

When he rescued me and other hikers who had gotten lost on a hike in Walnut Canyon - he found our way back to the car, even found us a shortcut. He was truly a walking GPS.

Things I miss the most

Having him nuzzle his head under my hand and make me pet him.

Having him in the front seat of my car

The way he greeted my clients

Watching him roll on the floor at the office, he'd "swim" all the way out of the room doing the back stroke

His "girly" bark

Watching him and Jack chase each other

Kayaking

Listening to him sleep, his heavy breathing and slight whimper.

The feel of his ears.

Oddly, the smell of his feet. I know that sounds gross but they always smelled like earth.

The way he always brought a toy to anyone who came to the door.

His love for everyone.

His smile. He had the best dog smile, ever.

When he would wait patiently for me to finish my yogurt so he could lick the bowl.

Sitting with him on the beach watching the sun set.

Hiking. He loved to hike, so do I. We were a great pair.

His presence in my home. It's been so quiet and empty without him.

How he followed me from room to room.

Playing Hide and Go Seek. It was always a great way to impress people when they came over.

I just simply miss having him at my side wherever I went.

What Harris Taught Me

Love, Love, Love
No matter what, love.

Even if the trash is thrown all over the house and ketchup stains in the carpet, in the end, that isn't what you remember - you remember the love.

Be loyal.

Exercise.

Find the adventure in life, don't assume it's going to find you.

Always explore what's around the next bend in the trail.

Take time to rest, absorb, and BE.

Become friends with even those who are different than you.

Learn.

Be spontaneous.

If you're cold, cover up.

You can love someone and still be yourself.

Share.

Try new things.
If you don't like it, spit it out.

Trust.

When you are really happy, roll around in the dirt and stop worrying about what a mess you might be making.

Life is short.

You could die on the couch, or you could die doing what you love. Either way you die but only one way do you truly live.

Hugs are important.

Love, Love, Love.

Never assume you can't do something, chances that you can are better if you at least try.

There is a lot of beauty in this world.

40 lbs is really heavy when you are climbing up a steep cliff after a long hike.

Carrying 40 lbs up a steep cliff is nothing when it's your best friend.

Be unconditional in your love. It will last longer, be better, and will be more spiritual.

Old souls can occupy a dog's body.

Be mindful.

Take walks.

Be grateful.

Love, Love, Love.

It always comes back to love.