July 5 1993 —- Feb. 11 2000
Golden Retriever
I remember when we first got you.
A friend brought you and your litter mates by the house.
I had no intention of getting a dog but when you sat in my lap
you kept falling asleep. You were so precious I knew that I had
to have you. You were my baby. I rocked you to sleep at night
and when it was cold I wrapped you in a blanket to keep you warm.
You were always so frisky. You were the class clown in puppy school.
I didn’t think that we would graduate but we did.
You always knew that you were special to me and nana and
didn’t neccesarily have to mind all the time.
When you were a little over a year old we got you a brother Celtic.
At first Celtic thought you were his big brother but as you two grew,
Celtic surpassed you and tended to be your big brother.
You and him would lay together in the backyard with one of
your heads resting on the other.
When you would sleep sometimes Celtic looked as if he was
keeping watch over you. You always carried around a stuffed animal
and you would get under my bedroom window with it in your mouth,
twisting and growling at me so you could get my attention.
You always preferred being petted to chasing a ball – you always
left that to Celtic. When you would see my car coming you would
jump up and run over to the fence to greet me.
You always had so much love to give.
At the tender young age of 6 1/2 you stopped eating and
would hardly get up. Nana took you to the Vet and the
Dr. diagnosed you with lymphosarcoma.
When I found out at work I had to leave I was so devastated.
The vet gave you 1 – 3 months but you only lasted 3 short weeks more.
Never once had you acted in pain even when your lymph nodes
were swollen to the size of baseballs.
I prayed to God every night to heal you because I could not
bear to let my baby Rio go. We were supposed to grow old together.
But on the morning of February 11 2000 I got up to give you
your medicine. When I opened your mouth to put the medicine in
you yelped out in pain for the first time.
I knew then that it was time as I couldn’t bear the thought of
you being in pain. As I left you that morning I patted you on the head
and told you goodbye. I just couldn’t stand the thought of you dying
so nana took you to the vet that final time.
My precious baby Rio I miss you something terrible and
so does nana and Celtic. I just thank God that He gave you to
me even it was for only 6 1/2 short years.
I hope to see you again someday and I hope you are enjoying
playing at the Bridge – cancer free.
We love you and miss you,
Julie Nana & Celtic
| Rio |