Since I was about 8 years old, all I ever wanted was a dog. I wanted a fluffy best friend to cuddle with. My parents/grandparents never allowed it & I had hamsters instead. Because you know – furry mouse… fluffy dog… similar enough?

Either way, I finally got a dog when I was 13 years old. December 5, 2003 we went in a huge snowstorm to pennsylvania to pick him up from Dana’s Cockers – http://www.danascockers.com – He had an issue he was born with – a stomach hernia – and was the last dog left. We basically raced there but it took over 5 hours & my parents were basically ready to agree to take any animal home, maybe even a bear.

We took home our one and only Hershey – also nick-named Tuz (Russian for Ace). He brightened up our home and filled it with love for so many years. Most honestly, our house is just a house but not a home without him in it. He was the most life-loving creature that I have ever encountered. He would run around chasing a small hand-ball all over the house no matter where he was. If you were eating – his face was in your plate and he would beg non-stop for food. He was also the smartest dog in the whole world. He understood everything, knew where his food was, knew what our schedule was – knew and understood everything. His favorite bones in the world were bully springs. He would chew them for hours and they were the best way to calm him down. He had a stuffed rabbit that he loved to hump – especially when we had guests over. He slept with us, woke up with us, and our lives were completely scheduled around him in every way. He was so loved, so cared for & honestly not a dog to us – he was a family member.

Unfortunately – on October 27th we got the bitter news that Hershey has cancerous tumors in his liver. We later took him to an oncologist to find out exactly what it was – carcinoma in the liver, spleen & lymph nodes. We took him for holistic treatment as traditional medicine was not an option.

You may have noticed that all this is in the past tense. That is because yesterday at 6:12 pm, Hershey crossed over the rainbow bridge. He went peacefully & in my arms. He passed exactly 5 minutes after I got home. We took him to our local vet and he will be cremated & returned to our home so he can forever be with us in the physical sense – he will definitely forever be with us in our hearts.

My one and only. My everything. The absolute love of my life . Rest in Peace.