In 1994 we had a 3 year old Maltese named Rocky.
He was such a loving companion.
I was 14 years old when we first got him and
he was everything to me
including my best friend.
Three years into his life
my entire family felt
that Rocky needed a companion as well.
We decided to get a another dog to keep him
company when we were not home.
Rocky always watched us leave
with sad eyes. So one day
we brought Tyson home.
It was a fall day in 1994 and
I picked Tyson out of
a litter of 5 maltese.
My best friend Livia and her family
also chose a Maltese from the same litter.
They named their dog lucky
but Tyson suited our maltese
because he was short and husky looking
and a real tough guy for his size.
Anyway like most Maltese Tyson was
rambunctious as pup and full of love
and affection. Rocky and Tyson
were the perfect pair and
although not always in agreement
they kept eachother company.
We never felt sad again when we had
to leave the house for hours at a time.
The two of them greatly enriched
our lives (and their own) and
truly gave use unconditional love.
Rocky died 2 1/2 years ago
on October 25 1999 due
to congestive heart failure.
Ironically Tyson passed away
this evening with the same disease.
We have yet to grieve the loss
of our precious Tyson
whom we so adored for all these years
and who helped us to get through the loss of Rocky.
Tyson’s condition declined so rapidly today
that it didn’t prepare me for his loss.
It was terribly difficult
to see Tyson struggling to stay with us.
I hadn’t seen him in a week or so
and tonight before his condition worsened
I came to his side at the clinic.
The little guy in the midst of his pain
mustered up a few wags with his tail
turned his face out of and
away from his oxygen mask and
towards me and looked so gently
into my eyes as if he was trying
to tell me that he was so glad
to see me and that everything was
going to be okay.
He never took his eyes off of me
until I walked away.
When my Rocky passed I was away
on a trip and the guilt of my absence
devastated me so being by Tyson’s side
meant so much to me.
I held on to the notion
that some miracle would make him all better
that he would be coming home
with us tonight and that every second
he was alive meant he had that chance.
But I remember reading a poem written
from a dogs perspective
telling the owner that unconditional love
meant knowing when it was the right time
to let your companion go.
Knowing when the pain and suffering
was taking away from the quality
of life he so greatly loved.
Tonight we realized that we had no choice
but to say goodbye to Tyson and
let his spirit go free.
The final phone call we received
from the veterinary hospital was
that we needed to come by his side
because he had suffered
two cardiac arrests and his condition
was getting worse . . .
we were losing one of our family.
Needless to say we went by his side and
stayed by his side
comforting him and assuring him
that some day we will see him again and
that now it was his turn to sleep and rest.
With our hands on his soft body
we tearfully watched as he slowly
left our world.
We hold on to the notion that some day we will get
to see these precious creatures again
that come into our lives and
give us so much love and opportunity
to love back. We grieve tonight
deeply for the second loss that came
all too soon.
In our hearts forever Rocky and Tyson
can now be together again
keeping each other company.
We will however miss theirs.
Remembering You Always,
Your loving family –
John Gloria Suzie and Diane
| Tyson |
| Celeketic Family |