Sometime in 1992 (possibly 1993 since it is hard to remember so far back) an FLP (funny looking puppy) was born into the world. He was black with the body shape of a Bassett hound and the hair of a Cocker Spaniel. He had short little bassett legs and long soft cocker ears which he would trip over constantly as a puppy. Unbelievably he came from a litter of 12-13 puppies. He was not picked out from the litter of puppies but simply ordered and brought to Slave Lake and so he picked his family rather than the other way around. But alas he was no ordinary dog due to all sorts of magical powers including super magical candy stealing powers and so he was soon named Merlin. Candies would magically disappear from the candy dish and his human “brother” Chad was scolded. Who else could it be but Chad? Chad and Merlin grew up together, nay they were raised together. Merlin's manners became impecable. Chad and Merlin would fight over room in the back seat of the car and often Chad would go bike riding and return home carrying Merlin on his back. Chad taught Merlin some very interesting reverse tricks such as to sit when he was told to roll over. Our most favorite trick was high 5 where Merlin would hop to your hand and lift his right paw and literally give you a high 5. Merlin was no ordinary dog, in fact he was people. At 9 years of age Merlin moved to Calgary with his old “dad” Rick and new “mom” Val. He traveled everywhere with his new family including Alaska in 2002 and recently a road trip to Anaheim, California and back in 2008. He was planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park but the angels started calling. He loved to cross country ski with Rick and Val and would run ahead to Rick and then back to Val with his snoopy dog ears flying straight outward at 90 degrees from his body. He even accidentally tried the hot tub at his aunty Chrisy’s and uncle Jim's in Kamloops. Everyone in Mer's life loved him dearly and has very fond memories of all of his endearing antics including conquering Chad's pink blanket as a puppy, crawling out of a frosty dog house with his buddy Griz (the 220 pound Rotti) who would cuddle him all night to keep him warm and cozy, getting stung by bees which in later life carried an extreme aversion to any insect, guarding his new baby kitty Mimi from the evil Svetlana for hours on end, chasing squirrels, smelling evening scent (if you can believe it!) and even his cleanliness with his bathroom habits to the very end. He even insisted on going to the vet with Nana one day, of course not knowing that was where Nana was going. Heck if Nana was going for a ride so was he. When we turned into the evil vet's parking lot he was very nervous until he realized the evil Nana was going to the vet and not him - Ha-Ha. In later years Mer's most favorite spot in the yard was one of the backyard ponds which eventually became named Merlin’s pond. At 330 pm June 27, 2010 at the tender age of almost 18 years, our beloved Merlin was taken by the angels to heaven. He was met there by all of his friends both animal and human including Griz, Ed, Grandpas Oliver and Steve and even Ron Manz who loved Merlin because he was such a gentleman. We will all miss Merlin and our hearts are very heavy with grief as no dog will or could ever be like him. We take immense solace in the fact that he did not suffer, passed over in our loving arms and will be happy in the ever after by Merlin’s pond next to the evening scent where he will faithfully guard his back yard from those darn squirrels. We will always love you very much Mer and know you watch over us now as you sit next to GOD (which really is DOG backwards).