Rockford/Rocky

Rocky came to us on a warm July day that will be forever engrained in my heart.  There were 2 male puppies left and we just couldn't decide so my daughters put both on the ground and let them choose.  One puppy ran for the parked boat but Rocky ran straight for me and plowed into my heart forever.  My husband read about the Morris Foundation Lifetime Study and my vet was more than happy to participate after my having lost 4 Goldens to cancer.  Rocky was so very happy all the time, even going to the vet to do his part in the study (except for the no breakfast part!).  He would give a GIANT bark when he hit the door of the vet's office and land immediately with both giant paws on the counter as if to announce his presence in the building.  His antics always earned him smiles and calls of greetings, even from behind closed doors.  He started out an adorable little puppy and changed into a beautiful GIANT puppy until the end, which came too soon.  Rocky loved swimming at the cabin (no matter what the temperature or how much ice was still in the creek), playing fetch until he was gasping for air, playing with his pals Rascal and (cousin) Winnie and going for rides in the car.  His presence was always there and if he wasn't playing he was by my side, laying at my feet at the end of the day. Just after his 7th birthday he was diagnosed with lymphoma and the news hit his vet and I like a ton of bricks.  We all thought (stupidly) that his being in the Study and doing everything so very correctly in his life that he would be immune but how very wrong we were.  What  my vet expected would be 6 months turned into only 4 months so all the activities on his bucket list had to be crammed into a very short time.  I knew the time was coming when my vet gave me his personal cell number and told me to call when I needed to.  I made the call on the morning of December 9th 2021 during a snow storm that took out power and dumped a foot of snow that the plows had still not taken care of. When we arrived at the vet to let Rocky go over the bridge  we went through like a snowplow ourselves.  No power for the staff but it didn't stop the wonderful doctor and staff in giving Rocky the loved he had always given them each visit.  My vet took is just as hard as my husband and I and we hugged for a very long time and then he swore with my husband over the unfairness of the horrible disease.  It's been 10 months today and my heart is still broken.  He was my forever heart dog and I miss his exuberance and love of life every moment of every day.  Each day I tell myself to be all the things he knew I was and that some day we will play fetch when we meet again.