Our sweet little "Hobitt" went to the Rainbow Bridge January 22nd, 2003.
It was only about 11 months ago -- in March '02 -- that we took 11-yr-old "Nykolas"
from the shelter. He and his 2-yr-old cocker "sister" had been evicted by the
landlord. She was adopted immediately. He was left behind in the cold kennel
run.
I pulled him for rescue. It took him about 6 hours to win our hearts over.
Nykolas became Toby. And he never made it onto the OBG website as being
available for adoption. We had many nicknames for this little buff cocker boy. "Hobitt"
was the one he heard most often, but "Toby Bear", "Dollars", "Tobes" and "Little
One" got used, too.
More than any of the others, Toby got me through the pain of losing my
"heart-dog", Buddy, in December 2001. Toby had many health issues: dry eye,
colitis, cocker ears, skin infections, lip fold infections, a "touchy tummy". He
never complained at the vet's poking or proding or my medicating and cleaning.
Toby was a busy little dog. He went to the elementary schools to meet the
children and do rescue demonstrations. He loved children, especially toddlers.
He went on rescue home visits to "test" kitties and see if they were
cocker-compatible. Toby never met a small critter he didn't like. (Big dogs were
a different story.)
Toby was my escort to the shelter's "Dances with Dogs" fundraiser last fall. He
got a lot of attention. Shelter staffers remembered him. Everyone thought he was
a puppy, no one believed me when I said he was 12 years old. Toby was a
beautiful, gentle soul.
Cocker "brother" Mickey doted on him. Bubba was often found snuggling near Toby.
The foster dogs warmed up to him quickly.
The end came very suddenly. Over the past few weeks, indoor potty "accidents"
became more and more frequent. We tested blood and urine, changed his diet. The
last few days, the accidents were happening hourly. I would "find" him, lost,
in the corner, licking at the walls. But his "cocker-pig" appetite never failed.
Toby is at the Rainbow Bridge now, my heart-dog Buddy was there to meet him, I'm
sure. There are plenty of doggy treats there, and he doesn't feel bad anymore. I
miss you little one. There's a big hole here at the condo.
Kathi and Megan, Mickey, Bubba, Liberty Belle and foster-of-the-month Trixie
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