I was celebrating my 14th birthday when my sister decided to buy herself a dog — a 12-week old Shetland Sheepdog who she would name Shiloh. I suggested the name as I was reading the novel by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.
The whole family rode along when we picked him up in May, shortly after my sister's graduation from a masters program. Both she and Shiloh would be home for the next few months until they moved to Alabama.
It was during this time that Shiloh learned everything he knows today – how to sit, how to play fetch and of course his house training. We took turns taking him outside for bathroom breaks, we picked out toys for him to play with, and we were all more than happy to accept puppy cuddles.
While he may lawfully be my sister's dog, for the last 11 years I've considered him to be mine as well.
During Shiloh's first summer with our family, my sister spent that summer house-training a then 12-week-old puppy, and when he would wake her up at 7 a.m. to go outside, a resounding “Puppy For Sale” often echoed through the house.
In retrospect, I should have emptied my piggy bank and taken the opportunity.
One particular memory I have from that summer was when I went to visit my sister and Shiloh in Gettysburg, where my sister spent numerous summers working as a park ranger at Gettysburg National Military Park.
With Shiloh sleeping with me in the guest bedroom, early morning bathroom duties were transferred to me. I didn’t know at the time that the front door of the house she was staying in had the kind of lock that could be opened from the inside while still locked from the outside.
Consequently, Shiloh and I spent about two hours locked outside until my sister woke up and realized we were missing.
That August, when Shiloh and my sister moved to Alabama, I accompanied them in her car, while our parents led the way in theirs. Only a few months old at the time, Shiloh insisted on sitting on my lap in the front seat for the 13-hour car ride, rather than having the backseat to himself.
At the end of each summer, we would make the trip again, and Shiloh, bigger each year, would still insist on sitting on my lap. And let me tell you, Shelties also shed like crazy, so at the end of the car ride, I often had to do a wardrobe change before going out for dinner or any other public excursions.
Since then, Shiloh has become a little easier to manage, though he has his wild moments when the phone rings or someone comes to the door. For the last 11 years, Shiloh has been an integral part of our family. He's been at our side for every holiday, every visit, every success and every loss.
For each member of the Murray family, Shiloh bonds and plays with each of us differently. For myself, he is often the subject of many Instagram photos. And he always goes along with any attire I dress him in, no matter how ridiculous.
My sister tries to engage Shiloh in physical activity, whether by playing fetch or going for walks, and he stays nearby while she's doing work at home.
If my mom takes a nap during the day, Shiloh is also napping near her feet. With my dad, who works from a home office, Shiloh likes to remind him that he is also there. If my dad is sitting on the couch, Shiloh will slip his nose under my dad’s hand, flipping it up on the top of his head. It’s Shiloh’s way of saying, “Hey, pet me and give me attention.”
Most who know Shiloh, or have seen photos of him on my various social media accounts, constantly comment on his cuteness and his unique personality.
As with most shelties, Shiloh is highly intelligent. His vocabulary and recognition of words surprises everyone in our family, with his favorite word being ice cream. If anyone in the house mentions the word “ice cream,” Shiloh is immediately in the kitchen by the freezer waiting for his bowl.
Since Shiloh has added much joy to our family over the last 11 years, it was very heartbreaking to learn only a few short weeks ago that he has Transitional Cell Carcinoma (TCC), a very aggressive form of bladder cancer.
Luckily Shiloh still acts like himself and seems to be both comfortable and happy, but this week he will start chemotherapy treatments to keep the mass from spreading. Unfortunately, it will not cure his cancer, but it will allow him to remain comfortable with the time he has left.
The next few months will be particularly hard as we spend some final time with our beloved friend and family member.
Some may hear such a story and feel he is simply a pet, but Shiloh is as much of a member of our family as any of us humans. In fact, he's even better because he's loved us all so unconditionally.
