HOW I REMEMBER
Where should I start, my friend, my buddy, my love. You brought so much love,
joy, and oh such laughter into my life and I hope I did the same for you. After
my Spikey died I too was dying inside. At that time I didn't know about the
Rainbow Bridge.
I never
thought the day would come when I'd want another dog, but I did. It seemed
at the time like I just wanted any dog as long as it was a dog. I wasn't
thinking clearly at the time, but Daddy knew it had to be a special dog for
Mommy.
Then one day we called this local police station that has a no kill shelter. We asked the animal warden if he had any
dogs and he said, "Well yes we do right now, we have this beautiful Chow mix
that's a great dog". We told the gentleman that we'd be down later that day to look at you. So Daddy and Mommy hurried and got dressed and went to different shelters.
That one special dog didn't exist yet so finally we went to the police station shelter. We walked in and the place was totally empty except for you off in the corner in a cage. But boy did you perk up when we walked in!! I asked the animal warden if I could walk you and he said sure. You sat so nicely as I put your leash on and then took you for a little walk outside. My goodness were you a 'gentle'
dog. Of course you and I had to see if we liked each other and surely
enough, we did!!!! I took you back inside to your cage but I just couldn't put you back in it. I knelt down and gave you a big hug and looked into your eyes. You looked back into mine and I looked at Daddy. Daddy
said, "Are you sure?" and I said, "Oh yes"!! So off we
all went, you were a new part of our family.
First thing we did was take you to the groomer's to make you all pretty. Not that you weren't pretty enough, but you
knew you needed a bath.
As we were waiting for you to get done at the groomer's, Daddy and I went shopping for
you. We also pondered on a name for you. I think every name went
through our heads and then suddenly I said...Josh. Josh was going to be
your name. We picked you up and oh how pretty and handsome you looked. We proceeded to drive you to what was going to be your new home now.
Daddy and I were so excited to have you that when we brought you inside the house, we forgot all about the
cats...Yikes!! Jenna and Peaches were waiting at the door for us as usual.
Inside you went, saw the cats and OH LORD what a nightmare. Off the cats went with you chasing them all the way. And then
we knew we were in trouble when you started walking on the back of the sofa. Well I knew then that you were never inside a house before.
Boy oh boy did we have our work cut out for us. Of course Daddy and Mommy had to work the next day so we put you inside your pretty new cage with a very nice soft thick cushion that Mommy picked out. And then off to work we went. When we came home, what did we
find....Yikes....you tore up the nice soft cushion I got for you. Well the next
day I put in a blanket for you which you also tore to shreds. Oh you were so bad!!! During the evenings you just wouldn't stop destroying things around the house. Well with
trial and error Daddy and I realized that you hated your cage. So we took
a big chance and left you in the house free to roam. Daddy and I thought, what's the worse that could happen....all the furniture would be destroyed that's
all, no big deal!! To our
surprise when we got home from work everything was fine, you were such a good
boy! You were fine when we weren't home but oh what a terror when we were. We
had to learn how to focus your energy on play so off to school you
went. Schooling went so well you had to go
three times!!!
You finally passed with flying colors.
You were top of your class!! Eventually the cats came out from hiding and started playing and enjoying life with their new brother.
Life was now good.
You just loved
the outdoors. You would stay out there all day if we'd let you. You
were such a stinker and tore up all the bushes along the back of the
house. So we had to build you a shelter and you loved you little private
house. But on rainy days you'd want nothing to do with outdoors. I
swear you could hold your pee for a whole day if you had too. There was
just no way you'd go out. 
I
was so use to Spikey and his pink tongue that it took me awhile to get use to
your purple tongue. But it didn't take me long. You were such a
happy guy, always smiling that your pretty purple tongue was always hanging
out. That pretty purple tongue just made you so unigue.
During the first year of having you and teaching you to settle down I discovered something about
you. You needed a companion of your own kind. Joshie when I lost Spikey I
was dieing inside. And seeing you in that cage when we rescued you, you
saved my life as I saved yours. You gave me my life back and even though
we weren't ready for another dog, I just had to give you back something that
'you' needed. Then one day Mommy came across this cute
little female Shiba Inu. You now had your own little buddy and we named
her Cocoa. You were now content and never wanted to run off any
more. Through the years Cocoa and you developed such a friendship.
Cocoa took to you like glue. She had her ways of getting you to play with
her like nibbling on your back legs. Then you'd get mad and turn around
and a chase would start. That's what Cocoa wanted was the chase and you'd
fall for her tricks every time. She sure had you wrapped around her little
paw. You and I developed a loving relationship too that I just fell in
love with you. You are just such a lovable
guy and so very handsome. Some people say Chow mixes are mean but you were
the most gentle dog. Never a growl out of you ever. You and I had a
bond that was just unbreakable. You always had that happy smile on your face,
except at nighttime. Then you always had those lovable sleeping eyes with
a grumpy look that I loved so much. Life was good at the Webb house for so long.
You
sure did enjoy all your home cooked meals. I remember that one Christmas
when I went to the grocery store and bought you guys a whole lamb roast. I
asked the butcher to grind it up for me. He gave me a strange look and I politely
said, "It's for my dogs". The butcher said, "I wish I was
your dog"!! I made you two a good home cooked Christmas meal
with that lamb. You and Cocoa sure enjoyed it!! And how you loved
when I baked homemade cookies for you two. I'd spend just
about the whole day baking at least three to four different kinds. You
would pace the floor waiting in anticipation for them to cool.
Bedtime
was a blast because it was a fight to see who would get their first. If you were on Daddy's side, he'd just pick you up and move you
over. Not me. So many times I didn't have the heart to move you so I'd go sleep on the
sofa. Bedtime was fun too because of how you and Cocoa would have your bouts of playtime right
on top of Daddy and Mommy! If I got in bed first and you weren't there yet all I had to do was call you. You'd come
moseying on into the room with those little sleepy eyes of yours and jump up.
How I remember your little dreams, watching your paws moving as if you were
playing or chasing something.
Things were going along so well and then something even better happened. Mommy's lost her job and she decided she was going to stay home with you guys for
a while. Mommy loved her Joshie and Cocoa so much and was excited knowing she'd
be spending so much time with you two. So many plans I had for you two playing and being outside
on warm summer days. You always loved just laying in the sun working on your
golden tan
Then just suddenly
life at the Webb house changed drastically. Within just two days you became
seriously ill with no warning. My heart was breaking knowing you were going to
leave me.
I
remember telling you it was okay to go, but you hung on cause it wasn't time
yet. Then your voice called out to me and said, "Mommy it's time".
You were leaving us and making your journey to the Rainbow Bridge. You are
with Spikey,Jamie and Grandpa Ronay now and probably having a ball. Running,
chasing squirrels, just partying up a storm I bet!
Joshie
I love you dearly and my heart is so empty without you. Cocoa misses her
playmate so much. I just wish I could reach out
and touch you and hug you for I'll always love you, my Joshie.
"Angels,
as 'tis but seldom they appear,
so neither do they make long stay;
they do but visit and away."
~John Norris~
"We
shall find peace. We shall hear the angels,
We shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds."
~Anton Chekhov~
If
it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this-the last battle-can't be won.
You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.
We have had so many happy years
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
Take me to where my needs they'll tend,
Only stay with me till the end
And hold me firm and speak to me
Although my tail it's last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do,
We've been so close--we two--these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.
Author
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