Stallone was our middle son, Austin’s dog. He was a GIANT bulldog. When Austin was off work, Stallone was with him. He went fishing with him and to the store. He was a happy dog and you could tell, so Austin didn’t put him on a leash and people didn’t mind.
Stallone’s size was intimidating though. He was visiting our office one day and when he came out of Kevin’s office a customer gasped and said “what is it?” Confused Kevin said, “He’s a dog.“ The woman said “he looks like one of those Chinese statues at the front of their buildings!” Sometimes he would stand by the front desk, peering out the window, not moving a muscle. People would come in and start to do business and at one point he would move causing the customer to jump and say “I thought he was a statue!”
Austin came to work for us and brought him to work with him every day. Stallone would come in the back door and come straight in my office. He would jump up in the wing back chair in front of desk and put his massive paws on it. As soon as I said “Good morning Stallone,” he would get down and go greet the others in the office. When he got done he would jump up on the couch rearrange the pillows to make a nest and fall fast asleep, snoring contently. He would awaken when people would come in the door, check them out and might get up to come to them for a scratch on the head or preferably his buttocks.
Stallone was the object of many funny pictures. He was quite a ham. His best picture that I can remember was he was upside down and Austin was on top of him and both of them had the biggest smiles. Stallone had a slobbering issue though, he would shake his head and what ever that slobber landed on, it would take the color off. But, we loved him in spite of it.
As time went along Austin and his wife Danielle had children. Three little girls that loved Stallone and he loved them as well. Bulldogs live about 10 years and he was 8 now and started having a few health issues. But for the most part he was still trucking along with life.
My husband and I went on a trip and on the return flight I fell fast asleep. My leg was crossed over the other one. As I dreamed Stallone appeared in it, he came running at me and knocked my leg off of the other one. I woke up to my leg flying off the other one and my husband startled asked “what’s wrong?” I said “Stallone ran into me!” He said “what?” I said “I’m afraid he is gone!” At the end of our flight we deplaned, got our luggage, went to the car and started to drive out of the airport. Austin called crying unable to speak. I said “I know Honey.” He said “You know? How could you know!“ I said “Stallone ran into me on the way to Heaven!” He’s gone right? Stumbling his words he said “yes.” I said “I am so sorry Honey, how good God is that He would allow us to have peace of mind about where he is.”
So, there’s your answer, dogs do go to Heaven, maybe not all of them but the good ones do!
Rhinestone Cowgirl 