Rocko The Magnificent
Rocko wrote this himself with a lot of heavy panting and a huge ear to ear grin on his face. I just translated.
Ball ball where’s the ball?
Find it find it love my ball.
High up in the air
will have to soar
It’s okay that is what
my four legs are for!
Twisting turning
done with glee…
I am an Aussie
you can’t catch me!
Good boy good boy
so they say.
Don’t waste words
throw it my way!
Hurry can’t wait
I’ll throw a fit.
Master my ball
hurry throw it!
Intent stare will it make
you toss it?
My ball my ball
look I will sit.
Muscles tensed
catch in mid-air.
Caught it before you
got it there!
My person my person
where is she?
Find her find her
where can she be?
Sniff sniff is it her
by the tree?
Nice lady love you
kisses are great
But throw my ball now
don’t make me wait!
Yeah yeah pats are nice
but please…
throw my ball do not tease!
End of game say is isn’t so
come on come on
one more throw?
This will be the last
throw it to me FAST!
Rocko came in to the shelter as a stray. He was in advanced stages of renal failure and had to be guided to the Bridge to end his suffering. We wonder if his owners knew he was sick and tossed him out to die an agonizing death? He must have been loved at some point in his life. He knew his obedience commands and was well socialized.
How does such a nice boy end up as a stray? Dead at 5 years of age when with proper care he may well have lived another 8 years. He had more ball drive than I have ever seen! He loved it when we hid his ball and he found it every time no matter how well we concealed it. He enjoyed tracking (in the snow!).
A better working dog than Rocko would have been hard to find even in pedigrees with 100% working lines. In good health Rocko would have made an EXCEPTIONAL search and rescue dog…he lost his chance to give something special to this world.
He was a good friend to us and to the many people at the shelter who tried their best to save him. He will be sadly missed and fondly remembered. Rocko was a CHAMPION right up to his last breath. He must have been suffering greatly and never showed it….he would ALWAYS want to play and would never turn his back on a good game of catch. He had such energy and zest for the simple things in life. A ride in the car a worn battered dirty ball. That is all he asked of us. The joy he gave while engaging in a game of tracking or fetching was priceless and the memory of Rocko bringing back the ball to infinity will forever bring smiles to us on our darkest of days!
He suffered in silence like so many of the forgotten ones. We urge you to donate your money if not your time to assist the shelters in placing the forgotten ones. Make what little time they may have left on this earth just a wee bit brighter. Please thank your shelter workers their days are often filled with sorrow for the ones that they can’t save due to health or temperament problems.
They give of their time and love generously often times with only the wag of a tail for pay! Society has put the heavy load on their shoulders of caring for these “throw away” animals and they are faced with heart-wrenching decisions daily. There is no time to weep when one is lost. After all the dog officer is bringing in six abandoned puppies!
Please THINK before you breed. Remember you are responsible for what you bring into this world for the LIFETIME of that being. If you don’t rescue please do not breed.
Thank you to all that do rescue.
You are truly heroes!
Denise and Tom
| Rocko The Magnificent |
| 2001 |
| Denise & Tom |