Reeko Suave

Where to start? How about “the world’s second best trail dog has passed away today”? That wouldn’t even begin to cover what Reeko meant to so many of us but it would accurately describe our riding partner for the better part of twelve years.

Reeko came into our life after Rocky (who passed away only a few weeks ago) could no longer continue his gig as a shop dog at Gord’s Ski and Bike. Carmen and I picked him up from death row at the Winnipeg SPCA back when it was in Transcona. Rocky needed a buddy if he was going to stay home and from that point forth Rocky and Reeko instantly became not only buddies but the two best trail dogs to ever ride Ingolf. Rocky was the jedi-master trail dog. It was he who trained an entire generation of trail doge and it all started with Reeko who then trained Boomer who then trained Sherman.

In the year or so before he charmed us at the pound, Reeko had been a reserve dog who’s claim to fame was that he could escape any enclosure or any yard and had had the silly tendency of getting hit by cars. As loyal and steadfast as he was on a trail ride, when he was in the city all he really wanted to do was escape. And run North. Back to his northern reserve it seemed. One day he escaped from our Donald store and when we finally got the phone call from the nice gentleman who had managed to nab him he was clear across the city… deep into the north end. Reeko had run through Portage Ave. During rush hour traffic.

Reeko would run away so often that when the SPCA moved to the North of our Kenaston store, he ended up there so often that they knew him by name and no longer bothered to fingerprint or cage him when he’d get caught. They would simply call the store and say “hi guys, Reeko is back” until the last time they called when we decided to check out the other dogs and brought home Boomer… He never went back again. Because as much as Reeko was a lover, he wasn’t so much a lover of other dogs.

Not many dogs can say that they’ve made hundreds of people smile the way Reeko has but whether it was as a totally inappropriate shop dog (no dog on the planet shed more than Reeko) or as a kick ass trail dog, Reeko left his mark on the Winnipeg and Northwestern Ontario mountain bike scene like few trail dogs have, hundreds have fond memories of him running in our pack by our bikes and long-jumping every lake he could. He was loving, happy and eager to roll in every kind of poo known to Mother Nature..

When Gord’s fell down and I was about to lose my house and therefore Reeko, Sherman and Boomer were about to lose their perfect dog yard, I had to make the gut wrenching, incredibly difficult decision of having to break up the band and find homes for my boys. (Something that still devastates me to this day). The first of my boys to find a better home was Reeko and as hard as it was it was a no-brainer, it was obvious. Reeko was going to go live with his very favourite human on the planet, his two-legged soulmate, one of the nicest people I’ve ever known: FJ Des Lauriers.

I remember that night when Reeko jumped into FJ’s truck and headed West to eventually retire in Fernie. I was so sad for me but so incredibly happy for those two. If ever a dog deserved a second dad as much as a tremendous person deserved an amazing dog it was them.

I followed Reeko’s new Rocky Mountain adventures through Facebook, his many rides and back-country skiing expeditions. I never for a moment worried about him, I never for a moment doubted that he was living a far better life than the one I could have provided him with.

Today I got a text from FJ … A text that I was unfortunately expecting. It read “Hey buddy , I wanted to let you know before I post it , that Reeko closed his eyes for the last time today . It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done but it was the right thing to do . Thank you again and again for one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever been given. I hope this finds you well” I hope he forgives me for sharing this… I haven’t spoken to him yet because what would be the use? Two grown men on different ends of Canada sobbing on the phone uncontrollably. I’m sure we’ll connect soon, I’m sure it was indeed the hardest thing he’s ever done. I only wish I could have been there for both of them.

Reeko, thank you for being my friend. I’m so happy that I have hundreds and hundreds of photos and videos of you accompanied by so many happy memories… on and off the bike. Thank you FJ for taking such good care of our boy. You both deserved each other. ❤️