Tollhaus Roberto Benigni
AKA Max; Maxi Pierre; King Dog
February 2, 1999-May 19, 2008

You bring home a puppy and the love sears so deep and the road seems

so stretched out in front of you. Our years together passed like a

heartbeat.

Julie will tell you she had her doubts about our suitability as pet

owners. She thought she might have Max back within a few days. She

was wrong. Brad and I fell madly, deeply, irrevocably in love. As the

old saying goes…I stuck my toe in the pond and was in up to my

neck. Within three years I had two more dogs. In 2004 came the fourth.

What can I say about Max that can bring him to life for you? He was

the King of the pack. A benevolent leader whose authority was never

challenged. I called him my David Niven dog—he was so elegant and

dignified and displayed impeccable manners. Whenever I left home his

charge was to “watch the house.” I would come back and he would leap

up from his favorite chair, give me the once over (where have you

been? what did you do? who did you meet?) and then lean into me and

rub against me like a gigantic kitty.
Honestly, he was an absolutely brilliant dog. Never have I known a

dog to try so hard to communicate. Brad and I swear he always knew

what we were saying—I know everyone says that—but with him it was

true! And he was protective. In a very subtle and effective way. If

he sensed discomfort on my part, he would place himself between me

and that discomfort. No display of brute force, just a quiet and

alert presence that could and would take care of business if necessary.

His absence is so loud it makes my head spin. The grief comes in

breath taking and body knocking waves. I try not to think what of him

I’ve lost…only everything I’ve gained. I will put one foot in front

of the other and walk through this pain, into numbness, and back to

feeling again.
A friend wrote that dogs live in the moment, unaware of their

mortality. That we gave Max a lifetime of beautiful moments. It is a

comforting thought and I pray that it is true. I know what he gave me

is beyond words—precious and forever.
God speed my gentle King. We’ll meet again on the other side.

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