Sunday Salute - Lukkie

Welcome to the Army of Four’s new feature: the Sunday Salute! Each week, we will blog about or hear from one of our friends. They’ll share their latest adventure, cool discovery, or tell us a little bit about themselves!

As we got ready to launch Sunday Salute, we heard some very sad news. Our friend Lukkie has passed away. (Haik-woo fans will recognize Luke from Haik-woo 20, the brother of Frankie and Maddie.) We thought there could be no better way to start our weekly spotlight than with a tribute to Lukkie!

This picture is from this summer, when Lukkie was about 13 years of age. His mom said that Lukkie was all about two things, love and peace. And this gentle pup just loved his mom! His dad said Luke wouldn’t even go to sleep with the rest of the family if his mom wasn't home, and would wait for her at the door. “If he lost me in the house throughout the daily routines, he came so sweetly and silly hunting me down with such great intensity,” his mom told us. "Where’s my mum?" he’d wonder. His mom says that no heart was ever more pure than his. :)

Luke was the one who got his family rolling for the day. His mom said he’d give the bed a nudge with his head and “make silly grunting noises, so sweet.” "Ok Mom, it’s that time!" he seemed to tell her. What a great way to start the day!

This picture is from 2003, when Frankie, the white Siberian Husky, joined the family. People often asked if Frankie was Lukkie’s baby! “Was he the dad?” Both adorable, white and furry!
Frankie says that Luke was the “absolute BESTEST Big brother any puppy could ever ask for!” He allowed her to do anything to him: she stole his cookies and his peanut butter filled Kong straight out from under him when she was done with hers. He would just look up at his mom with the look of, "Moooooom, she did it again….!" But he was so sweet to her. Whenever she had to be reprimanded (which we’re sure wasn’t often!), he hated it. When she was very young, he would run and tell his mom if Frankie was doing something she should not be doing. Frankie’s mom said it wasn’t to tattle-tale, that he told her with nervousness. He didn't want her to get into trouble. He really was all about peace.

This is Lukkie’s mom’s absolute favorite picture of him. She told us, “To me, it always conveyed exactly how he was. This was the Lukkie look, facial expression and body.” Luke even ate in this position! His mom said that for every meal, “he’d strategically place his body so the bowl was in between his two front feet, lay and eat! He loved breakfast at 7:00, but dinner had to be at 3:00 exactly. He had an amazing clock inside of his tummy. It is no exaggeration to say that he was in position and ready and barking for me to come fill the bowl at 3:00 p.m. If I was late and not paying attention, with each passing minute the bark and noises got louder. He LOVED mealtime.”

Lukkie’s mom also told us about his lovely fur! She said, “…his fur was the softest fur I think I will ever feel, it was so different. Just like he was. Almost like a rabbit’s fur.”
And look at that lovely nose and muzzle of his! Luke’s mom said, “He used to literally throw himself down in front of me and I knew it was time out to take time out of the busy day, and give what mattered most ~ Love, hugs and lipstick kisses all over his white nose.” She said when she gave him nose smoochies, he would take a looong, deep breath, as if to say, “Ahhhhhhhhhhh energy! I can go on now.” That is a time out well worth taking!

Lukkie passed away at home, while his Mom and Dad caressed him during his last moments. Luke’s mom told us, “It was extremely hard, but it being Lukkie I am glad he had his last breath here with us in his bed he loved so much. We don't know what took him, only that he went very fast through the evening.” He experienced some seizure activity, and they think it could have been a tumor, possibly a tumor on the spleen. He went quickly and did not suffer, but he is oh, so sorely missed. His family and friends will miss gentle Lukkie forever, and love him just as long.

God Speed to sweet Lukkie, his mom’s baby boy. We join with her in wishing you all the love and peace and cookies galore! As your mom said, “There is no limit of treats there for you anymore.” You will always fill her heart, Lukkie of peace and love.

We salute you, Lukkie. And to your loving family, may your tears (and ours) wash away the pain you feel, and may your memories comfort you forever.

The Army of Four