Birthday: April 20th 1994 Likes: squirrels and ground squirrels Pet-Peeves: when her partner, Lobo, bugs her too much Favorite Toy: anything the other dog wants at the moment Favorite Food: not fussy at all Favorite Walk: any off leash walk with squirrels and ground squirrels Best Tricks: very agile, can almost climb trees Arrival Story: When she was a puppy she was going to be put down by the previous owner because she had killed some of his chickens. I don't have any chickens and it made no sense to put down such a nice dog. She's been with me ever since and hasn't harmed a fly. Bio: In October of 2005, while I was in the midst of a divorce, Tasha got cancer. She went for surgery but the vet warned me that he couldn't get as much of the lump as he wanted and that it was very aggressive cancer and would probably return within 6 months. Also, she might be lame. Tasha was in severe pain for 2 days after the surgery. I started to think I had done the wrong thing by putting her through all of that at 10 years of age. After those initial 2 days and then 8 more of wearing the dreaded cone, she made a full recovery and is considered completely cured. She never limped at all. The lump was on her right flank. On her recent checkup, the vet said, "Every once in a while, we win one against cancer!"
Tasha lived on for several more years. Days before I had to have her euthanized, I wrote this:
Tasha:
I'm am so sorry about what is happening to you. It breaks my heart to see you this way. Just a short while ago you were running and playing very well for a fifteen year old dog. As little as a few weeks ago, we were still going on some nice walks in the woods. I knew you had degenerative myelopathy. I figured it out myself about 2 months ago. The vet confirmed this 2 weeks ago. I just did not expect you to get so bad so fast. I'm not ready to lose you. But I never would be. Tonight I know that I will have to be taking you on your final trip to the vet real soon. We have been through a lot together. Losing Rosie. Losing my father. Losing Max. Losing Fuzzy. My divorce. Your cancer. Losing my mother. And losing Peaches. We survived all of that together. And you are so good with the little wildcat sisters. I have seen you gently kissing them and them kissing you back.
I love you girl. You are a very good dog.
Mom The Groups I'm In: !!! Mutts !!!, Dogster's Angels, For the Love of Cats and Dogs, Navin and Buds, PUP PALS NEEDED, Tall Cat Tales, The (Endless) Summer of Scooter The Last Forum I Posted In: Will your breed win?
I just want to thank everyone who has given me one of those cakes. We tried to thank everyone personally, but we just cannot keep track! The cakes don't stay in the same order when we go to my page. So we cannot just go down the line and respond to each one. We would end up missing some and thanking some twice! Anyhow, thank you to all my friends and know that it was appreciated.
Hi Tasha, it sure feels like it has been a lot longer than two years since we lost you. You left a big hole in all of our lives. Just wanted to tell you that we think of you every day and miss you. I still say, "Time to take the dogs for a walk!" and then remember that you are not here. Lobo has a lot less energy since you left us. Partly because he is getting old, and partly because he isn't showing off for you and competing with you now. I thought of finding another dog to be Lobo's new chum but he isn't easy to get along with and I think only you were able to do that.
We hope you are doing well at the bridge and with Max and Rosie and Fuzzy & Peaches & Lucky. We love you.
Mom
I hope you had a nice birthday at the bridge with Rosie, Max, Fuzzy, Peaches and Lucky. And that my troubles didn't put a damper on your celebrations. We thought I might be joining you earlier this week. You must have thought, "Oh no! Not that big pest Lobo!" I will be joining you some day, but hopefully not real soon.
I just thought I would tell you how much Mom and I miss you. The 2nd anniversary of the day we lost you is coming up soon. I am seeing the same vet that got you through your cancer all those years ago. He is a good guy.
Have you seen Kitcat? She is such a crazy little kitty. You would just love her. She turned two today so you probably won't meet her in person for quite a while yet. I just know you and her would have gotten along real well. Squirrel is a good kitty too and still misses her sister Lucky whose 2nd anniversary of her passing is coming up real soon too. We lost both of you in the same month.
So anyway, Mom, Squirrel & I wanted to say that we love you and think about you every day. Kitcat just knows of you and if you were here, she would be cleaning out your ears too.
Love,
Lobo
Dogster Obsessions: The Starter Kit for Dogs by Wildebeest
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