Rocky Castro-Bogen 8/26/94 - 1/7/08

Well, today was a very rough Monday. Rocky’s health has been declining for quite awhile, and after discussions with the vets it appeared it would be in his best interest to put him down. They believed the cancer they found list time had spread so much he wouldn’t make it much longer anyway. We were looking at the pictures from last year and were amazed in the difference in only a year. His coat was just falling out, there is no luster any more, and the weight loss was just devastating, even though his appetite was just as healthy as ever. So we made the decision, my Dad and sister visited us over the weekend and got to enjoy Rocky and we decided Monday would be the best time. Paul went home and got him after work and took him to enjoy Research Park. I met them there, Rocky was trying so hard to go every where at once and even just that little bit his poor legs were failing him. Finally we took him over to the vet school. They took us back in a little room and let us say our goodbyes. The vets came in to explain the process and then left to prepare the shots. We petted and tried to soothe Rocky as much as possible and they came back in and gave him the tranquilizer shot. It was amazing how fast it took, he got a little disconcerted by the sudden tiredness and fought a bit but eventually just laid down to sleep. We put his head on the loofa dog momma momma we brought with us and said a final goodbye. That was the worst part, leaving. I’ve never done something so hard. Hopefully he’s now in some doggie heaven with unlimited food and lots of squirrels to bark at. We’ll miss our old man.