Toby:
Alias: Obie, TobTob, Woo, Bubba,
He was so special he answered to all of his names. From the moment I saw Tobys picture on the Hopalong Rescue page with his floppy ears I fell in love. My Dad had just died from Cancer and we were moving to his house in Antioch. What a great idea, I thought, I will get Jeff a dog for the move, since he didnt want to move and leave his friends, he could have a dog to take care of. How did I know he would be my heart, he was my buddy, and my boy. He went to puppy classes that he didnt do to well in. Toby was just Toby. He eventually learned and was just starting to settle down. Toby was taken from us much, much too soon by Lymphoma Toby was ALL puppy. I cant tell you how many shoes we lost to his little teeth. Toby slept in the bed with me until he got too big and literally knocked me out the bed. Toby loved to go on walks. He would walk and walk as far as I wanted to go. He loved the dog park. He loved to play. About a year ago I got bailey, ironically to keep Toby company. She did not like Toby at first, but he was patient with her. Slowly he would sit next to her his paw a little closer each time. When she would growl he would back up and then do it again later. Next thing I know they are inseparable. Toby loved to swim. He swam with Jeff for the last time yesterday. He wasnt feeling wellbut the last thing he did was something he loved to do.
Toby was such a presence in our house. He wasnt just a dog, he was apart of our family and there is a big, big part missing right now. Bailey is going from room to room whining and looking for him. She has gone out to the kennel in the back yard and went to his dog house and looked inside for him. She misses him. She and I went on our first walk tonight with out himA lot of people can not understand the feelings there are for a pet. When you take care of something ever daythey become so much apart of your life. My thoughts were always on taking care of my babies. Was it too hot outside? Was it too cold outside? What do I do if I get home late? What do I do if I am spending the night? I always had to make sure he (they) were taken care of. My family is not big dog lovers but Toby made his way into their hearts. My mom would even call and ask to speak to him on the phone. It was a big joke with usbut he would sit and listen when my mom would call his name.
Today I had to put my best friend to sleep. I held him and kissed his forehead and told him, Thats mamas boy like I always did. He licked me all over my face as if to say GOODBYE they gave him the shot and I held him as his heart took its one last beatIf you have a pet, whether it is a dog, cat, bird, turtle, fishwhatever, if you love it hold it, Okay well maybe not the fish (smile), but tell them you love thembecause tonight when I call bailey in to my room for bedshe will come but Toby wont be with herand I wont be able to kiss his forehead goodnight and tell him I love him.so you tell yours in Tobys memory and in his honor because he was very, very much loved.
Our whole family loved himhe was not only apart of our family but he was apart of our hearts. He will be missed dearly, especially by me.
WE WILL MISS YOU MY BOY. WE DIDNT HAVE YOU LONG ENOUGH.
Every step I take, every move I make
Every single day, every time I pray
Ill be missing you
Thinkin of the day, when you went away
What a life to take, what a bond to break
Ill be missing you