In Memory of Big Al

by Dara Messinger

I was already home visiting family for the holidays when a colleague called and said, "I hate to bother you, but I have to tell you..." On Thursday, December 22nd, Big Al was laid to rest.

Many of you may know Al as the big brown dog on the second floor that sniffed your leg as you walked past him to return equipment, or the bear-like creature that blocked the elevator while napping. For the many of us who work at DCTV, however, not to mention to his gracious owners and DCTV founders, Jon Alpert & Keiko Tsuno, he was so much more.

Al was a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, a breed known for their "bright and happy disposition, intelligence, quiet good sense, and an affectionate protective nature." He was the third Chessie that Jon & Keiko owned. His father was even a champion show dog, and no one could deny Al's handsome and noble good looks. Al was born in the DCTV firehouse, something to which Keiko attributed his sweet and gentle nature, as he was always surrounded by a myriad of people coming in and out of the building from day one and never seemed to wish harm on a soul.

I didn't have a dog of my own growing up, so it wasn't until I started working at DCTV that a canine became a part of my everyday life. In the years that followed, a bond definitely formed, most likely just on my end, but it was there nonetheless. Al's eyes were almost human, and I'll always remember when he seemed to know I was in a bad mood, moseying up to the side of my desk, perching his head on my knee, and looking up, as though to say, "It's all good. Everything's going to be okay."

Big Al was 14 and a half when he died, and will be remembered and forever missed as a fine furry friend who lived a full, humble, and happy life. I hope that in his passing, we're all reminded to do the same.

See more pictures of Al here.