Dust in the Wind "Dusty" LaFountain 11.19.1993-1.30.2008

After 15 years of beautiful life, my little Dusty has earned his angel wings protecting the family he loves.
On Tuesday night my mom let him and Luna (the cat) out and told Dusty to protect Luna. Just seconds later she heard noises and saw an animal run by the window. Luna got inside, hair up, totally freaked out. Dusty ran the animal away from the house, but soon his barking stopped. My mom and the neighbor went out and followed the trail and found Dusty as his little head perked up at the sound of her voice. My mom wrapped him in a towel and brought him to the emergency Vet. He had been bitten by the animal (most likely a Bob Cat), and it punctured his esophagus and crushed his adam's apple. They tried to help him for hours, but told my mom he might not make it through surgery and they probably wouldn't be able to fix his wounds.
She made the hard decision to let him die as a hero. My dad said it was like Legends of the Fall, because Dusty was attacked and injured when he was young and survived. Later, as an old man he went out one last time and the beast got the better of him. He was such a wonderful little man, lived through so much, and was with me most of my life. I will never forget him and never stop loving him. Our little hero.


Dusty Days: Photomontages by MarLyn LaFountain

Dusty, India and me as puppies

Leaving for a Rio Grande Elementary field trip, Brush Ranch Summer Camp, and finally Hampshire College

In the spring of 1999 Luna came into our lives

The holidays

Dusty and Luna waiting for me to come home