Glenn’s dog Victor has been the protector of the family for quite some time, but more than that he’s been a ‘best friend’ as Glenn described on radio today. Victor has been battling health issues in recent years and tomorrow, the family will say their final goodbyes as he will be relieved of his suffering. On radio this morning, Glenn reflected on what Victor has meant to he and his family and the difficulty in coming to this decision.
"Most people after a long relationship with their pets know what it feels like. They become member of the family," Glenn told listeners.
Glenn and Tania got Victor years ago when Glenn got his first death threat. Neither of them felt they were ready to have a gun in the house for protection at the time, and they agreed that it would be better to have a guard dog. They ended up going to Harrison K9 where they found Victor.
"Here's a dog that looked like a lion or a bear, giant. Head the size of a cinder block," Glenn remembered.
Victor was always very kind and gentle, and Glenn recalled that when Raphe was a baby he would hang onto Victor's teeth like they were rattles.
But Victor was more than just the family dog, he was the kind and gentle protector of the Beck family.
"I never knew what it felt like to be afraid for your life. We now have 24-hour protective details on my family and I. And I can't even explain to the men who stand by my side or in front of me or behind me, what it means to know that someone will risk their life for you. Victor has been our best friend -- I apologize. And a guardian," Glenn said through tears.
Listeners and viewers know that Victor has been sick for the past several months, and the Beck's have been preparing to say goodbye for some time now. And despite knowing that their time with Victor on Earth is coming to an end, the decision has not been an easy one.
"When they get sick you usually have to bring a decision in a short period of time. You bring them to the hospital, and you have to decide now to put them down. Once in a while you watch your best friend decay and suffer and you wonder when? You pray, please Lord, just take him."
"Nobody wants to put an animal down. But somebody has to say the hard things. We've known this day is coming. He's very old. He's 13 now. Which is extraordinarily old for a purebred German shepherd. We thought we were going to lose him two summers ago, but he just kept coming back. And last summer, we talked about putting him down when we were up at the ranch we have. We have a place where if he were younger he would have chasing the cows and barking at the sky, and running through the fields. We brought him up, thought he was doing better last summer. When we came home I think Victor retired," he explained.
"We've decided to have him cremated even though I'm not sure that's the right thing to do. We wanted to bury him up at the ranch because we just are afraid that God forbid, things happen, we'd sell our house, and move away. We didn't want him alone. I've tried to give my kids the experience this week that they'll always remember, and wanted to be able to dig his grave myself and bury him because I think there is something in that honor and dignity and I think it's something that a boy and his dad should do," Glenn said.
"I just wanted to thank you. Especially those who have listened in Tampa or Philadelphia when we got Victor. We'd go out and meet people, and so many people say how is he? I thought of you yesterday as we took a walk. I told him that he's been loved by people he's never even met. I don't know if it means anything to him, but it means something to me."
"It's going to be a tough weekend obviously. And sure would appreciate your prayers one last time," Glenn said.
