by Lorrie Williams
Duke was an 11 year old Cocker/Lab mix. He was very unique looking cause he always was thought to be a black lab puppy with a lil' wrinkled cocker spaniel face. Oh how he hated when people would come up and call him a puppy. He thought he was a big macho boy. Yes in fact he did think of himself as a human boy at times he loved to just go anywhere. He loved clothes, toys and I often had to floss his teeth or be chased if he saw the floss in my hand. He seem to know about so many human things in his life like money, I could take a $20 ,$10 , $100.00 bills in front of him and say "Well, Duke which one of these would buys us the most?" He would pick the $100. He was so much a part of my life. I am An only child and I got him for easter when I was 18 and now at 29 I look back at all the things he did with me. He was my Little Brother, we fought,we were jealous of our mom we played and I could always depend on him and talk to him and cry to him. I have a daughter who is 2 1/2 years old now. When I went to the doctor when I thought I was pregnant he went with me in the car. He was the first to know that I was pregnant. He looked for that baby for months until finally one day he jumped up to look in the bassinet that he had daily found empty and there she was my daughter. He instantly became her protector. Her first Christmas He opened her presents for her. He loved the Hollidays just as any kid would he loved to dress up for Halloween and get lots of Christmas presents and the easter bunny always let him a basket on Easter Sunday. I miss him so bad. I feel like a part of me is gone. July 14th 2004 I believe is one of the worst days of my life. He had a massive Heart attack and was gone in second. I tryed SO SO hard to bring him back to me ,to us, but I couldn't. I have never dealt with death well. I look at other dogs and think how could I ever let another dog in His home,lie on his bed, play with his baby. I don't think I can. He was not a dog to us (his family) but a lil' boy trapped in a dog's body. He was born on February 14th, 1993 and Died July 14th 2004. A valentine's puppy and isn't ironic that a heart attack killed him. He also thought at times he was a cat cause that is the only other animals he had to play with. They moourn him also. Our one cat goes and just lies on his grave. He loved to go frog hunting in our yard. I have seen so many frogs since he passed and I just cry. My little girl tells me and he grandma "Don't Cry mommy" "Don't cry Gurney" Then 2 days after Duke died my daughter came up when I crying and told me not to cry cause duke wasn't sick anymore and he was ok!! Noone told he those things but it helped alittle. Duke was so very special and loved so much and by so many people and I will always love him and he can NEVER be forgotton and as it says on my Grandma and Grandpa's headstone(Of whom I loved greatly also) "LOVE LIVES ON" I will always love them and I will always LOVE Duke my BEST FRIEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I Love You Dukie Pooh, ALways and Forever Luv Your Big Sissy