For Pet Lovers: "Forever Rocky" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

tv star collector · 09-17-2008, 07:43 PM

One gray morning I took the day off from work, knowing that today was the day it had to be done.
Our dog, Rocky, had to be put to sleep. Sickness had ravaged his once-strong body, and despite
every effort to heal our beloved boxer, his illness was intensifying.

I remember calling him into the car ... how he loved car rides! But he seemed to sense that this
time was going to be different. I drove around for hours, looking for any errand or excuse not to go
to the vet's office, but I could no longer put off the inevitable. As I wrote the check to the vet for
Rocky to be "put down," my eyes welled with tears and stained the check so it was almost
unreadable.

We had gotten Rocky four years earlier, just before my first son, Robert, was born. We all loved
him dearly, especially little Robert.

My heart ached as I drove home. I already missed Rocky. Robert greeted me as I got out of the
car. When he asked me where our dog was, I explained that Rocky was in heaven now. I told him
Rocky had been so sick, but now he would be happy and be able to run and play all the time. My
little four-year-old paused, then looking at me with his clear blue eyes and an innocent smile on
his face, he pointed to the sky and said, "He's up there, right, Dad?" I managed to nod yes, and
walked into the house. My wife took one look at my face and started weeping softly herself. Then
she asked me where Robert was, and I went back out to the yard to find him.

In the yard, Robert was running back and forth, tossing a large stick into the air, waiting for it to
return to the ground and then picking it up and throwing it higher and higher each time. When I
asked what he was doing, he simply turned and smiled.

"I'm playing with Rocky, Dad ..."

S.C. Edwards,
Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul (1998)

AB · 09-18-2008, 05:23 PM

What a sweet & sad story!

Chocoholic · 09-18-2008, 07:26 PM

Awww...

We had to put our dog down several years ago. I still miss her at times. It's a shame they don't get to live long enough. Dogs give so much and ask for so little in return.

TripperFan · 09-22-2008, 02:29 PM

What a beautiful story - thanks for posting this.

Purffin · 09-28-2008, 09:18 PM

Its so hard losing a pet. I've had pets pass on for different reasons , its sad but finding new life in a new pet brings much joy.

MonarC · 09-28-2008, 09:21 PM

09-17-2008, 07:43 PM	#1
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,486	For Pet Lovers: "Forever Rocky" One gray morning I took the day off from work, knowing that today was the day it had to be done. Our dog, Rocky, had to be put to sleep. Sickness had ravaged his once-strong body, and despite every effort to heal our beloved boxer, his illness was intensifying. I remember calling him into the car ... how he loved car rides! But he seemed to sense that this time was going to be different. I drove around for hours, looking for any errand or excuse not to go to the vet's office, but I could no longer put off the inevitable. As I wrote the check to the vet for Rocky to be "put down," my eyes welled with tears and stained the check so it was almost unreadable. We had gotten Rocky four years earlier, just before my first son, Robert, was born. We all loved him dearly, especially little Robert. My heart ached as I drove home. I already missed Rocky. Robert greeted me as I got out of the car. When he asked me where our dog was, I explained that Rocky was in heaven now. I told him Rocky had been so sick, but now he would be happy and be able to run and play all the time. My little four-year-old paused, then looking at me with his clear blue eyes and an innocent smile on his face, he pointed to the sky and said, "He's up there, right, Dad?" I managed to nod yes, and walked into the house. My wife took one look at my face and started weeping softly herself. Then she asked me where Robert was, and I went back out to the yard to find him. In the yard, Robert was running back and forth, tossing a large stick into the air, waiting for it to return to the ground and then picking it up and throwing it higher and higher each time. When I asked what he was doing, he simply turned and smiled. "I'm playing with Rocky, Dad ..." S.C. Edwards, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul (1998)

09-22-2008, 02:29 PM	#4
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	What a beautiful story - thanks for posting this.
	__________________ If I don't see you in this world, I'll meet you in the next one.....don't be late James Marshall Hendrix Voodoo Chile The Forum Legend formerly known as TripperFan "religion is for people who are afraid of hell--spirituality is for people who have been through hell"---anonymous

09-18-2008, 05:23 PM	#2
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,429	What a sweet & sad story!

09-18-2008, 07:26 PM	#3
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	Awww... We had to put our dog down several years ago. I still miss her at times. It's a shame they don't get to live long enough. Dogs give so much and ask for so little in return.

09-28-2008, 09:18 PM	#5
Purffin Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 25, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 315	Its so hard losing a pet. I've had pets pass on for different reasons , its sad but finding new life in a new pet brings much joy.

09-28-2008, 09:21 PM	#6
MonarC The truth will set you free Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 05, 2002 Location: 3rd Stone From The Sun Posts: 9,525