In the Autumn of 2000 I started my first year of university. When I came home for Christmas break it became clear to me that one of my dear childhood companions, Keasha, would not be around much longer. She was part German Shepherd and part Samoyed, we had done so much over the years, she had been a loyal friend to my cat, and watched over all of the family… so sweet and gentle and wonderful a dog. She was epileptic, had a thyroid problem which she was on meds for, and had had a hard time before joining our family back around when I was 8. But, when I came home for that break, I could see here not moving as well, and showing the years were finally catching up to her. One day in the rain, I had to go into the yard and carry her back into the house, her wet and muddy, and not able to walk. She got a bit better, but soon after I returned to University, my parents took her to a vet that helped her pass peacefully away.
In April of 2001 a new dog would join the Family, a beautiful little dachshund. My eldest niece, at the time my only one, at just age 4 help my parents pick her out, and chose her first name, Mocha. The pup was also named after my Grandmother who had passed a few years prior providing her with a wonderful string of three names. I first met Mocha when she just a pup. My parents, nieces and her traveled from Oregon to Iowa where I was attending University. The picked me up and took me to Illinois where I was to spend the summer for an internship. That tiny little pup and I bonded right away, and no matter how long we were apart, she would always react with great joy and excitement whenever I returned home.
Over the past 10 years she and I have had many adventures, gone on many walks, played, cuddled, gone camping together. She watched out for the family as well, she knew her cats, her dogs (over the last year or two my sisters family grew to include two dogs, the newest just in the last few months). She was a wonderful companion for us all… In the past couple of years she started having some weight issues, and in the past few days it became clear she was reach the end of her life, though we thought she still had a bit more… Wednesday was hard, but Thursday she seemed to be doing better, moving around more, able to get outside on her own… then yesterday she moved on her own a bit, but was slowing more. When my mom came home after work and grocery shopping, she found Mocha laying there looking up at her, and she picked her up to carry her out to the back yard, and as she reached the end of the deck, Mocha lifted her head, perked her ears up, sniffed, and passed away within her arms… no longer the struggle with breathing, and he tiredness of the pass few days, she now left to rest eternally.
It’s hard on all of us when we loose a loved one. My thoughts and prayers are especially with my eldest niece, she seemed to take it very hard last night, (My sister and her kids were on their way up at the time of Mocha’s passing, had made sure to bring Mocha’s toy that had been left in their car a few weeks ago when My sister, mom, and eldest niece had gone to the coast together with Mocha for my niece’s birthday).
A year a half ago my cat of 21 and a half years passed away, and now my pup of ten and a half has… it’s a bit of a sad time right now, but also a joyous one, for I can ponder and reflect on many wonderful memories, can be happy in knowing Mocha passed in the arms of a loved one, and not alone. I hope appearances of not being in pain are true as well, and thus rejoice that she was not in pain, just tired and worn out. But I am a bit lonely now without my snoring puppy to cuddle up to, play with, and go on walks with… nor the cat that took care of me since I was just a little boy watching her be born 23 years ago.
Peace be with you all
— Lyle II