IN LOVING MEMORY OF
LESLIE SELLS COCOA

(AKC Champ.)
May 3, 1983 to August 4, 1997

This was my Cocoa. He was a pure-bred Chocolate Labrador Retriever who came to me on August 4, 1983. This was the year I entered kindergarten. In March of 1995, I noticed that Cocoa was very sluggish. He wouldn't eat, wouldn't drink, and wouldn't get up. I begged my parents to take him to the vet. When they did, it was just in time. Cocoa had a cancerous tumor on his spleen which had started to hemmorhage (bleed). The vet told us that there may not be much hope but I had to try and save him. They went ahead with the operation and it was a success!! But the vet said that after operations like this, especially on older dogs like Cocoa (he was 12 at the time), the life expectancy varied. He said that Cocoa could live for 6 months or 2 years after the operation. Well, Cocoa made a full recovery but over the next few years, time did its terrible dance and Cocoa's age began to show. Towards the end we were taking him to the vet once every two weeks for cortazone shots and we had to help him up just so he could go outside. Then on a rainy night in August, I went down to the basement to sit with Cocoa. I knew he was going to die that night. With his last ounce of strength, he lifted his head and placed it on my leg. I stroked his smooth brown head. After a short while, I couldn't take it anymore and I kissed his head for the last time. I stood up and ran upstairs. At 7:30 p.m. my mother came into my room and told me that Cocoa had passed. I cried uncontrollably. I couldn't help but remember how over the years, I had grown accustomed to Cocoa being there when I came home from school or when I was home alone. And then one day he was gone. I felt safe when I would hear his poweful bark. And then one day it was gone. I always thought that he would be there at my feet while I was watching tv or be at the foot of my bed while I slept. But one day he wasn't. We had Cocoa cremated and his ashes spread over a pet cememtery. If you take notice, Cocoa passed away exactly 14 years to the day after he came to me. I will always remember and love Cocoa and it hasn't stopped hurting yet.



This pesonal story may be long, but I hope that if you have lost an aninal friend, it brings you comfort. People say, "It's only an animal". No, it's not just an animal. Cocoa had his own personality. He was so gentle and he was nicer than some humans that I know. He was more than "just an animal" and I feel sorry for those people who say that. When you lose a pet, it's ok to hurt and it's ok to grieve. It's ok to cry and it's ok to remember. These things all help the grieving process. I know that I will never totally be over Cocoa's death but that is normal.

I sincerely hope that this personal experience is a help to those who have lost any kind of pet, whether it be a dog, cat, bird, ferret, rabbit, or hamster. If you have a personal experience of your own, then please feel free to email me at leslies@ptd.net. I would love to lend an ear and maybe even lend a hand to your grieving process.






~I joined this webring for pet owners who are mourning their lost loved ones~

	This Rainbow Bridge Webring site is owned by Leslie.
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