Kind Of An Ugly Puppy

By the time we introduced children into the family, our dogs were already 5 years old. We lived out in the country on a comfortable acreage and life was pretty settled. Two medium sized dogs,  a couple of Paint horses and full time jobs kept us pretty busy.

The day we brought our eldest son (Ry) home from the hospital a lot of things changed. I put the infant car seat on the ground and our labrador/dalmatian dog, Mocha, came over for a closer look. She stared and she sniffed. And then she sat down next to the car seat and looked up at me and "said".... it's kind of an ugly puppy, but I'll take it. 

And from that day forward, Ry was Mocha's puppy and she was his guard dog and best friend. As cliche as it sounds, it's the absolute honest truth. That dog and that boy were meant to be together.

Our other dog, Oreo, is also a loving and wonderful, brilliant (Border Collie cross) companion, but she has never been particularly interested in the boys or being at their side. But that's what Mocha lived for. She loved it. That was easy to see.

Each night Mocha slept outside Ry's bedroom door. When he got his first toddler bed she lay right on the mat next to it. When he graduated to a double bed, Mocha's prayers had been answered. Finally there was a bed big enough for the both of them!

Mocha was pretty vocal about it being her bed too. Should I lie down and get comfy while reading my Ry a bedtime story, she would whine and whimper until I got out of "her spot" and let her settle in for the night.

When her arthritis got bad enough that she could no longer climb up on his bed, she began sleeping on the hard floor in the hallway outside his bedroom. Lovingly, we placed her new little dog bed there, so she would be comfortable. Faithfully each night, when she got up to stretch, her claws would tap, tap, tap on his bedroom floor as she peered inside his room and walked right up to the bed to get a closer look. She checked on all of us. She just made the rounds and kept watch on all of us, every night. We knew the noises of her "rounds" and they brought us peace and comfort each night.

When Ry learned to ride a bike, she was there. When he was on the swings, she was there. When he went for a walk in the forest, she was there. For hours on end, she would lie in the yard watching him as he played. I have so many pictures of her like this. Where Ry was, Mocha was.  As Ry grew older and more independent I  got more and more comfortable letting him play in our big country yard. I took comfort in knowing Mocha was always there and always watching him.

When the family was out at the lake, or out on the dock, she was right there too. She simply wouldn't dream of letting her puppy out of her sight. She had endless patience for him. Whether he wanted to cuddle or climb, or share his hotdog she was always gentle and willing.

When Ry's little brother CJ was born, she added to her duties, but she never did bond with CJ the same way she did with Ry.

I sure did think this was a precious moment when Ry wanted to read to his baby brother and he lay down on a blanket for storytime, and Mocha got right in there and joined the boys. I could go on and on about the way those two shared their lives. If words were enough to express the love between them I wouldn't need pictures, but these photos say so much.

Mocha died on September 28th, 2012 of old age and complications of canine epilepsy. It was a devastating loss to our family. Right now we're still in hour by hour mode. I'm sure each day will get a little easier but right now it still really stings.

I sat down to eat some ice cream today and after a few bites I just burst into tears, remembering that every night she would lick out the cup and finish the ice cream for me. And now I have to finish it myself and that sucks because I can't eat a whole cup of ice cream,  or ANYTHING for that matter. Mocha has spent the last 15 years cleaning up after me and finishing my every meal. That was our thing. I brought that baby dog home when she was just 8 weeks old and loved her every day after.

I will try to remember the best times. Like Ry's first day of school. Both Mocha and CJ tried to squeeze in on the action. Both appear here, ready to go with him, for that milestone event.

I will try to remember the 1000s of hours she spent walking with her family and the way she was always right beside us. And will forever be, in our hearts.

Mocha, our guardian on earth. Now our angel in Heaven. Rest in peace Mocha. Rest in peace.