We found “Rocky” one day when all of us went to Pismo Beach during Valentine’s weekend in 1981. I was walking ahead of my father brother and sister to get back to our motel room.
I stopped for a breather and this small black dog came up to me. He was a stray and didn’t seem to have a home. My father brother and sister caught up to me and we all went back to the motel with the dog following us. Being a big “Rocky” fan of Sly Stallone movies I immediately started to call the dog “Rocky.” He seemed to like the name so it stuck. We fed it let it stay in our room while we watched TV. But the time came for us to go to bed and of course our mom and dad didn’t want this “mutt” to stay. We begged and pleaded for our dad to let us keep him but to no prevail. My dad saw our sullen faces and made a deal with us. He said “I tell you what. If this dog is at the door in the morning when we open it he can come home with us.” We agreed thinking it was going to happen that we’d never see “Rocky” again. So we said our goodbyes to the little dog and went to bed. In the morning I was awakened to the sound of my mother opening the door and exclaiming “Oh my God! Look who’s here!” Sure enough Rocky was at the door waiting as if he knew the deal. We took him home with us to Santa Clara California and he stayed with us being my best friend for 12 years. He was always there for me never argued with me never made fun of me he always had unconditional love for me and my family. In 1993 when I had to have him put to sleep for having some unknown sickness I faced the toughest decision of my life. I felt that I was letting down my friend that I was taking away his life. What right did I have to do that?! But then again to see him suffer like he was I knew I was doing the right thing. There was nothing the vets could do. I kissed him goodbye and immediately started to cry. He was the best friend I’ve ever had and I’ll miss him.
Rocky 1981 – 1993
Manuel
| Rocky |
| 3, Sept 1993 |
| Manuel |