time can not wash away...
to Bodie, my awesome "rott-dobe mix" that
passed away."
us in a happier place.
Bodie was my friend, my companion.
He had no idea he was a "dog", he thought he was a "human".
Bodie was a big dog, 161 pounds. Not only was he massive in size,
he was tall. His parents were both A.K.C. ... Rottweiler mother and Doberman father.
He got the best of both breeds.
Bodie was a gift to our son from his fiancee.
He was an adorable, snuggly, cuddly 5 week-old puppy.
From the very start he was always mischievous but a real "people dog."
He loved everyone. But would stand his ground with a growl if one of
his loved ones were threatened.
He was very smart, as if he knew how to understand English. Once spoken
to he never forgot.
All puppies chew, it goes with the territory.
Bodie developed an unsatisfiable craving for Hubby's shoes and slippers.
After loosing numerous pairs of slippers,
Hubby acquired two identical pair for Christmas.
We have him on video holding up both pair saying,
"Look Pam, one pair for me, one pair for Bodie!"
That brought giggles from our family!
When my living room furniture was two weeks old
Bodie decided he would "get even" for being home alone.
He chewed one whole side of the chair.
Our son thought he and Bodie were going to be homeless!
My glue gun fixed the tear, Bodie quit chewing.
For discipline we used a rolled up newspaper
along with the word"BAD!"
After that shocking day we had to be careful
using the word,"BAD" in a sentence!
When Bodie was two along came our first grandson, and from the very
beginning, a magnificent bond was formed between them.
Bodie, showing the signs of becoming our valiant protector
took on that role when one day our grandson approached
that "forbidden" zone, the road. Bodie instinctively
knew the danger and in a flash like lightning,
he was there, his body against our grandson,
pushing him back until I got there! Our grandson
wasn't too pleased, but, I was! It was then I knew
we need not fear as long as we had Bodie...
Bodie slept beside our grandson's bed and patrolled
the house at night. Always on guard, always searching out
danger. When it was just my husband and I
Bodie slept with us.
Bodie slept as tight to me as he could get,
laying on part of me. He had to be touching another human,
that was his way.
I could walk that dog anywhere. He was a big
very powerful dog. He knew how to use that power
or not use it. He once pulled me when on a leash.
He had bad Cruciate Ligaments in both legs. They had to be
corrected surgically or he would have lost the
ability to walk. This a problem that some large
breeds have either from heredity or from rapid growth.
After his surgery one knee at a time, he had to be on a leash
from October to April to make sure he didn't damage
what had been corrected.
We were in the front yard for him to potty. Out of nowhere
came a growling dog with hair standing on end.
The dog belonged a couple of houses up and was usually tied.
The menacing dog made a big mistake when he came
towards me growling and showing his teeth! Bodie took off
like a bolt of electric with me still
hanging onto his leash! I yelled at the top of my lungs
for Bodie to stop. No way, he was on a mission!
I ended up flat on my belly being dragged across the yard
by a force I could never have imagined!
Bodie stopped, FINALLY! I laid on the
ground laughing with tears running down my face
as Bodie kept nudging me.
Abruptly the dog charged again with me not being
off the ground yet! Bodie charged to protect me,
how dare he come near his owner? By then I was on my feet
having let go of the leash. I could see the same thing repeated
with me taking another wild ride on my belly!
He chased that silly animal out of the yard
five times before the dog left.
To this day I laugh whenever I think of that chase!
If the truck moved Bodie was in it. He was always
beside me. If I worked in my flowers he would lie
in the shade close by. If we were in the pool
he layed underneath the deck.
It is hallow underneath
with a bank of dirt to lie in.
The dirt was cool, the deck offered shade,
he was close to us.
It worked for him.
The garden and the pool are in a mowed yard
of about two acres. Bodie liked to run in the openness.
There are barnswallows everywhere which Bodie thought
were fair game. It was "chasing time!"
He would chase those crazy barnswallows
till I thought he'd drop from exhaustion.
He actually thought he could catch them!
What he would have done if he ever caught one was beyond me.
Snowballs were another thing he enjoyed.
As long as anyone would throw them he would jump
after them. I swear that dog never tired!
My arm used to throb before I made him quit
because I was exhausted!
After my kids grew up and left home I thought
I would have some alone time, especially
in the bathroom. Not so, Bodie was always there!
If I took a shower, he was waiting patiently
for me to finish. He followed me from room
to room, sometimes with me falling over him!
He would look up at me
enough to say, "You know I'm here!"
Bodie ended up with a form of cartilage cancer.
It was a very sad, horrifying day when we learned
the diagnosis. It took forever to even begin
to grasp what was happening. It was terrible,
no words can ever tell anyone what that was like.
I took care of him giving him everything
I could possibly give. It didn't matter,
I couldn't do anything to prevent the inevitable.
I really thought I knew how it would be to lose him,
but, you can't comprehend something like that.
When it happened I thought my heart would break.
I really hope that nobody ever has to experience
what I did during that time.
Part of me died with him, I am not the same person.
I learned so many valuable lessons from a very noble,
wonderful animal. Many of the qualities
I learned and saw in him should be in more people.
Animals have so much to give us,
if we just let them.
Almost two years later, I see Bodie running
in my field or laying beside my flower beds. Not a day
goes by, that I don't think of him in some way
feeling his presence. His memory will be with me
forever, nothing can destroy that. Recently I have
good memories of him. The grief took time to heal,
then the memories returned.
I am at peace with losing him.
I had some help healing thanks to so many good friends
and one caring, understanding, loving Hubby!
Along with Kota! But, that's another story, coming soon....
That no one else shall know,
For who but I can see you lie,
Each night, in fireglow?
And who but I can reach my hand,
Before we go to bed,
And fell the living warmth of you,
And touch your silken head?
And only I can walk woodland paths,
And see, ahead of me,
Your large form racing with the wind,
So young again, and free.
And only I can see you swim,
In every brook I pass...
And, when I call, no one but I,
Can see the bending grass...
-Author Unknown-
Wolf Tracks
My Girl Min
Bowser's Fever
Pet Ownership and Credits
Rottweiler Graphics Copyrighted by Peggy Rose
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