Rocco Says Goodbye

 

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A Christmas miracle.

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Rocco was brought home 13 years ago by my son, Eric, who found Rocco caged up, and rescued him.

Rocco was an Australian Shepherd and Eric began to study how smart this breed was, and was bragging about Rocco.

Early years were great, and Rocco and Eric had a good time together.

As time went on, Eric became busy at work, and Rocco got older, with some age related problems.

So I ended up watching Rocco more than Eric.

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In the past few years, Rocco became blind in both eyes, developed seizures, developed heart failure, ascites, coughing, and had an abdominal tumor.

It was a lot of hard work, for both Rocco and myself, to take care of him.

He needed a lot of care and attention.

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Lately, Rocco started refusing the cheese that had his meds in it, or he would refuse meds, or he would cough them out.

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Two nights ago, Rocco had a seizure at 2 am.

After he was calm, I helped him down the porch steps so he could go into the yard.

But when he came back to the steps, he could not get back up.

So I struggled to get a 75 pound dog up 4 steps onto the porch.

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I got back to sleep about 4 am.

Bu 10:30 am, there was another seizure. Again at 2 pm, and about every two hours after wards.

As he was now collapsed completely on the floor, his legs failing him, and because of my own back issues, and not being able to bend over that low, I could not get any medicine into him.

This also meant he was stuck there on my kitchen floor, and would be making a bathroom mess there all day, and as a permanent problem.

By the end of the day I was able to get someone over to help me, and we got a seizure med and a pain med into him for the night. .

Eric was not around. He was out of town and would not be back until midnight.

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The next morning I was able to get one more set of meds into him.

Rocco had labored breathing, and he did not look well at all.

The painful decision was made to put him down.

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Eric carried Rocco to my car, and I drove him to the vet, dropping him off about 1:30 pm.

The vet would be back after 3 pm, and would do the procedure before the end of the day.

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I waited at home. And Eric waited in his workshop. Both of us were feeling sad.

I was in my office, checking emails, and trying to console Sweetie, the other dog.

About 3:08-3:10 pm, I thought about the vet returning to the office, and happened to look out the window.

It was snowing, with big, beautiful, fluffy snowflakes.

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Note: the snow was west of me. See marker, my house. Snow was far from my house.

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I looked at my local radar, and there was no snow due here until maybe tomorrow.

All we were supposed to get was rain.

But amazed, I thought maybe we had a tiny bit after all.

I could see my entire front yard was being covered with large fluffy snowflakes.

Again, I thought of Rocco.

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Since Eric was in his workshop, which does not have any windows, I leashed up Sweetie to go to the shop to tell Eric about the snow.

When I got outside, there was no snow, neither in the back yard, where the shop was, or even in the front yard, even though I had seen it there through my window.

I waited to see if I got any more snow…..nothing.

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I told Eric that I thought the beautiful snow was a good bye present from Rocco.

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When I returned to the house about 4 pm, I called the vet to find out if they had put Rocco down yet.

Yes, they had.

I asked the time it was done.

The staff member told me about 3:08-3:10, the same time I had seen the beautiful snow out my window.

I told the staff member my snow story, and how I believed it was Rocco’s way of saying goodbye, and God’s way of assuring me it was the right decision, and that Rocco had peace.

The staff member said Rocco was entirely at peace and cooperated, as if he knew, and was ready. She said this was rare to have a dog just lay his head down before the IV drug was even half way administered.

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For those that do not believe animals have any spiritual connection with man, I say they are wrong.

God put animals here on this earth to make man’s life more complete.

Pets are more loyal than humans, and will suffer and die for their humans.

Rocco held on as long as he could, to give comfort to us.

We released him of this task, as he would have to suffer to give us companionship.

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Now the Lord has Rocco, and I believe the bible when it says it will give us the desires of our hearts.

I believe we will see Rocco again someday, when we pass on as well.

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Thank you Lord, and thank you Rocco, for the beautiful Christmas time snow miracle.

We hope to see you both someday soon.

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