by Billie Peters
PetesTyko--We called him Tyko or Budda. He was a 7-year-old Chihuahua. When he was a baby he looked like a black budda doll, but as he grew up he turned a lighter tan with small strans of black. His belly was white and pink. Tyko, was a one and only. He was special because we didn't have to send him to a school to learn any commands, he learned on his own. I would call Tyko and tell him to come let me rub his belly and he would roll over and play dead. I could ask him, day or night, what was wrong and he would walk over and lick my hand and shake his head, putting his head on my lap. There wasn't a day that went by that Tyko did not spend with us. When we went somewhere, he was there with us. He was never alone, either my husband, my daughter, my mother (who stays with us) or myself was with him. Tyko never lacked what he gave the most, he never lacked love. In the end, when he grew sick, I grew sick. You see, he has laid by my husband's side throughout 2002. My husband has been going through chemo for Hodgkins Lyphoma cancer. Tyko stopped paying much attention to me, because his daddy was sick. My husband took care of him throughout his illness, because I had to work during the day. I had to put him down on 1/11/03, my sister's birthday, because the skin lesions and swollen lymph nodes took over his tiny, little body. Tyko (Budda) we love you and miss you. One day we will meet again at the bridge.