November 1 1987—————–April 5 1998 ——————March 13 1990
Rio you were my baby. We did everything together until you
became a mother. All but one of your pups were sold.
Mischievous old Royal the Superdog.
The memories I have of you two would take pages to get it all out.
Endless love endless trouble.
Rio you traveled across the country with me.
Played soccer never had an accident. You saved me from
my own self-destruction.
I would probably be dead if I hadn’t had you to look after.
After you had your pups you knew more about loving and it
was really something to watch you with your pups.
You were my guardian my salvation and the shoulder for
me to cry on when life hurt too much.
You also taught me how to love.
I promised when you got older that I would be there with you.
I didn’t want you to die without me beside you to soothe your fears.
We had comforted each other through so much before that I
knew I had to help you through to the end.
Royal the Champion. I don’t think anyone would willingly ask
a dog to prove their courage in the ways that you had to
throughout your life. Throughout your life I had to keep
an eye on Rio because if she saw another dog she would start
a fight that you had to finish. You always did and you always won.
But you were not aggressive. My baby could climb all over you
and take food out of your mouth without any protest.
You never fought more than you had to to make the other
dog back down. As soon as I got Rio out of the way you would
leave the other dog and go back to looking for a stick or water.
And when you were 3 you developed Epilepsy and a thyroid condition.
And then your hip started to hurt. Over the years you acted fine
so in my ignorance I didn’t get you X-rayed until you were 8
after you had hurt yourself in the fields.
You never let on that your left hip was so eroded it was almost
unrecognizable. You almost never limped you still ran swam
and jumped things. You never whimpered or became cranky.
I have since discovered if you were a different breed I might
have had to put you down it was so bad.
The vet was surprised you were walking much less everything else.
After your hip replacement your courage amazed us again.
The surgery ended around 7:30 p.m.
The next morning in spite of the strong sedatives you were
standing and eating. I was able to take you home in two days
instead of the average 1 week. And you were walking a mile in
about a weeks time.
You wouldn’t slow down. Superdog I thought for sure that you would
find a way out of the house during the fire. Silly I know
but you had made it through so much that I was sure you
could do this too.
Casey my handsome boy. You were only 9 mths. old when you
died – on your birthday. You never had a chance and it’s all my fault.
If I had followed my instincts I would have stayed home that day.
I could have gotten you all out. You were such a smart pup.
I don’t have the history of memories with you that I do with
Rio and Royal but you are loved and will never be
forgotten as long as I have breath in my body.
My 3 Labs Rio (choc.) Royal(black) Casey(yellow),
I should have been there for you. I was supposed to protect you.
When I came home to a street full of fire trucks,
I didn’t believe it was us. I ran up to the house just
as they carried out a blanket with you Rio and Royal in it. I felt like
dying right then. When they found you Casey you were still warm.
I thought that they hadn’t tried to save you so I tried.
But you wouldn’t breathe.
It didn’t occur to me then that since your kennel was closer to the
fire you would have been the first to go. Rio and Royal ran to the end of
the hall and they were stiff when they came out. I did try guys I did.
I am so sorry I couldn’t save you – the lights of my lives.
Please forgive me my baby my champion and my handsome boy.
I will always love you.
Deb
| Rio & Casey & Royal |