Katrina and I want to tell you about our best friend. His
name was Toby. He was born in South
Carolina. He almost didn’t make it. He was the last of the litter at a flea
market and if he wasn’t sold he was going to the pound. Here is a little bit about how he enriched
our life.
South Carolina
While walking through a South Carolina flea market I spotted
two puppies for sale. OMG, they were the
cutest yellow labs ever. One, a girl,
was jumpy and hyper, and was entertaining little girl and her family. The other puppy, a boy, sat there and gave a
puppy-size bark and gave me those eyes; the irresistible puppy dog eyes. I was hooked and $75.00 later, Toby was saved
from going to the pound and became Katrina and my best friend.
Toby’s first years were fun.
When we brought him home, he was lazy.
We took him out to potty/house train him and he laid on the ground
outside. Took him a bit. When he ate, he had his food bowl between his
two front paws and he lay down and ate.
He was so funny and floppy.
About 6 months after we got him, Katrina tripped over him
and broke her arm. He thought he was in
trouble. He lay by her bed for days
looking all worried. Toby followed her
everywhere. Once, Katrina went to take
him for a walk around the block. Well,
Toby wasn’t having it and lay down and wouldn’t go any further. I had to go pick him up with the car. Silly boy.
When I left for Korea, he suffered separation anxiety. He wouldn’t eat and sat by the front door at
1700 daily waiting for me to come home from work. 6 months later I did come home. He was so excited. He jumped on me and sniffed my face to make
sure it was really me. He wasn’t mad, he
was happy to see me. Unfortunately I had
to go back, but I reassured him I would come back home again.
Washington
Toby enjoyed the road trip across the country. He got to see lots of different things on the
way to Washington and adapted well to the move.
He was lucky and had the whole backend of the Expedition to himself. He saw the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, the Columbia
Gorge and much more.
Once again, I had to leave to go to Iraq. He was really protective this time and didn’t
leave my side while I packed. When I
came home from Iraq he was so excited.
He is a true and faithful friend.
After getting back, he needed a procedure done on an ear infection. We picked him up at the clinic and while
driving home we thought he passed gas……nope.
Toby passed more than gas and we were grossed out! What a Stinker!
Missouri
We didn’t know this would be his last stop.
When we would get home every day, Toby would hop around for
a cookie and a pat on the head. One
time, we took him to the vet for a check-up.
He had a sense something was up.
When we got there he went flat out on the floor and wouldn’t move. It was hilarious. He looked like Rudolph, on the Christmas show,
when he slid across the ice. Legs
flailing everwhere! He did the same thing on his trip to the doggie spa! Silly boy!
After a while we introduced Lily. Lily was a constant companion and those two were
silly when it came to getting treats.
Toby knew the trick and Lily didn’t.
Toby would sit close by and when we would say paw to Lily, Toby would
give us his paw. I think he was trying
to teach her. He did a good job, she
does it now.
These are just a few of the Toby stories. He was a great protector and friend. You see, Toby crossed the Rainbow Bridge
today. Run across the bridge boy! Tramp, Sandy, Rusty and Jake are waiting to
show you where the treat jar is. You
will meet many new friends.
Thanks for being the best man in our life. Mommy and Katrina will always love you and
you will live forever in our hearts.
