I
don’t talk about it much but when I quit working the cat
act, it left a huge void in my life. My cats were my entire life
during that period and what could possibly compare to working
in a cage with lions and tigers every day? I was pretty depressed
about it for a long time and knew I would never have as close
a relationship with any animals again. But I was wrong. By far
the greatest stroke of luck that has ever come my way is Toby.
Toby
was born in 1986 and was 11 months old when I met him. He was
chained to a tree and I felt sorry for him. (I wouldn't even treat a German like that.) When I got
him home it was obvious that he had never been in a house. Over
the next few weeks I realized that he had an exceptional temperament
and he became my constant companion. Since that time he has been
with me twenty-four hours per day and few people have ever seen
me without Toby. I taught him to work with other dogs and he quickly
became my right hand at work and has assisted in the training
of thousands of dogs. He is as well known in the Raleigh area
as he is at reenactments. Wherever I go he goes as well. When
I go to a store or restaurant he waits by the door. He loves people;
as a matter of fact he loves everything. Violence toward others
is something he could not conceive. Birds, cats, rabbits, horses,
and all those things that most dogs will chase and harm if possible
were potential friends to Toby.
He
began reenacting when I did in 1988 with the 23rd Royal Welsh
doing Rev.War. It was obvious that he loved it. When I started
doing CW, the 116th PA asked me to bring him along into the field. This was at Saylors' Creek. He marched with us and by observation learned the drill and was capable of doing even the most complicated maneuvers. During the battle he led our charge across Saylors' Creek and then greeted our defeated enemies when the battle ended. After this it was impossible to keep him in camp. When the unit formed up, he was there and any attempts to restrain him were doomed to quick failure.
From that time until his death, we attended reenactments several times per month. Reenacting was the most important thing in Toby's life. He loved his reenactor friends and they loved him. At reenactments everyone I meet has a story about Toby and I never grow tired of hearing them. Even in his old age, at reenactments he became, for a few days, a puppy again.
Together
we fought the Civil War and spent many days wandering the mountains
around Lake George pursued by savages and Frenchmen. Toby was
particularly fond of savages. When they captured us and were treating
me rather roughly I glanced toward him and found him on most friendly
terms with our captors and quite oblivious to my distress. We
rode on tanks and lived in trenches and bunkers on the Eastern
Front. We survived gas attacks and went on trench raids in the
Great War and then rested in our bunker while our Kameraden talked
and sang. We drank from the same canteen and shared blankets against
the cold. These were the best experiences of my life and Toby
is the closest friend I will ever have.
Without
his reenactor friends his life would not have been nearly as great
as it was, nor as long. Reenactments were the most powerful medicine
that could be provided in his years of decline. If he was not
well, I knew what would make him better. He also loved sitting
in front of the coffee shop, riding with me in the van, eating
empanatas for lunch. Toby loved small animals, (especialy
cats & birds) and everyone he met. It may sound strange
but I learned much from him; such as the value of kindness and
patience toward others. I wish that I could practice these qualities
with the absolute consistency that Toby did. I also learned from
Toby that morality can be natural and is not necessarily learned
or needs be enforced. He would do no harm to anything for any
reason; not even for self-gain; to do so would not have occurred
to him. If we could equal Toby in character I think, we would
have no wars to reenact.
In his final year, his foot was amputated because of blood clots and he was not expected to live for more than a few weeks. I took him to one last reenactment where we were forced to make a stretcher to carry him into camp. By Sunday, he was walking and not only survived but attended many reenactments during the next year. Eventually he was diagnosed with cancer and still he continued to work and reenact. Then one year after the amputation he developed blood clots again. I took him to a reenactment at Guilford Courthouse where he spent the day in camp visiting with his friends. When they formed up for the battle it was necessary to restrain him, so great was his desire to go along. Afterward the guys carried him to the van where he attempted to get back out and return to camp. He died peacefully on the way home in his van where he spent so much of his life. Reenactors were the best things in Toby's life and for that I will always be indebted.