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Rocky my rip roarer, my wobbly shadow, my snorter, my snarfler, my crocodile snack snapper, my loyal sidekick, my trooper, my good spirit, my stony-faced, black-eyed people scarer, my house wrecker, my rescue, my sleep depriver, my skin rasher, my welcome home every day, my sidewalk pee decorator, my skunk chaser, my eager good morning, my happy wagger, my laughter, my great and constant companion, I will always hold you near and I will always miss you.

Goodbye Rocky, my dear dear dog. May you sleep well and deep and in the warm arms of eternity keep.

Rocky. 1999 - March 20, 2011



38 Comments to “Rocky”

  1. Ian says:

    I am so sorry for your loss Fred.
    R.I.P Rocky

  2. K says:

    Oh, Fred, I am so sorry.

  3. Anonymous says:

    You're in my thoughts Fred. I am so sorry. I only knew Rocky through you and my heart aches. What a spirit.

  4. Anonymous says:

    I am so sorry for your loss. I enjoyed your old blog, and enjoy seeing the pound dogs and hearing about your life with your dogs.

  5. Anonymous says:

    I am so, so, so sorry...Rocky was a rock star, for sure...a great dog. He's with Stella now...running around, playing. No more arthritis, no more cancer, no more ailments to slow him down.
    This is just all so unfair. Sorry, but I have to go...this is too much.

  6. Sheryl says:

    So sorry for your loss Fred. I want to say something comforting and eloquent here but having gone through the same thing a few months ago, I know that it will not help ease your pain.

    Just this - thank you for sharing him (and Stella) with us.

  7. I am so very sorry for your loss, Fred. I will keep you and Rocky in my thoughts and prayers.

  8. G. Broderick says:

    My condolences on the loss of Rocky. He was a great dog and I loved hearing about him and Stella. If there is a hearafter for dogs, or humans, I hope that Stella and Rocky are together again and that you will be reunited one day too. Run free Rocky.

  9. Meredeth says:

    I am so very sorry for your loss. He was a beautiful boy.

  10. Anonymous says:

    I'm so terribly sorry for your loss, Fred, and I'm sad with you. Nothing any of us could say will make saying goodbye to Rocky any easier, but maybe you can draw some comfort from knowing that your dog-loving cyber friends feel your pain. I've been reading your blogs for a couple of years and always loved reading your Rocky tales. May your sweet, snarfly, snorty buddy rest in peace.

  11. Biscuit says:

    Oh, Fred. I'm so awfully sorry. It just isn't fair.

  12. Anonymous says:

    Tears were shed halfway around the world for Rocky, and for you, by people you have never met. Ali, Sheli, Rubhaya, and I (whom you have met) wish we could be there for you, to help you through...

  13. Erin says:

    Oh Fred, my heart goes out to you. I am so sorry to hear of Rocky's passing, your love for him is so clear in your writing. You have my deepest sympathies and I wish you comfort for the days to come.

  14. foxpen says:

    I've been following your blogs since the early days of One Bark at a Time, and I am honestly very saddened to hear about ol' Rocky. When Stella passed away, I was too shy to comment, thinking it wasn't really my place when I was a lurker and not big on the comments. However, having been reading alongside so many others for so long, it feels like I've lost an old friend. I'm truely sorry for your loss, Fred. You have my sincerest condolences.

  15. Bev says:

    Thank you for sharing him with us, and your beautiful Stella, too. Your love shines through and each of us will carry the memory of Rocky along with you. If only all dogs could know but a drop of that love.

  16. Deva says:

    Rocky - so sorry to see you go. I have been following his adventures and I hope the end was kind and peaceful. What a good boy.

  17. Jo Ann says:

    Fred, I have been following this blog and your previous one for a long time and felt that I knew your dogs well through your writings about them. I am feeling for you in losing both of them in less than one year. I know that you will dearly miss your Rocky. You did well by him, and he was a good dog. You have my deepest condolences.

  18. Anonymous says:

    So very sorry to hear of Rocky's death. How lucky he was to have had you for his companion and friend. The only bad thing I have ever discovered about dogs is that their lives are far too short. I will hug my wonderful dog a little closer.

  19. Windelynn says:

    Good Bye Rocky, I enjoyed reading about you and seeing your pictures. You and Stella will be missed here. My condolences to you Fred...

  20. Anonymous says:

    So sorry about Rocky. He was very lucky to have a friend like you. Also the dogs at TAS are lucky to have you as a friend. Your wonderful pictures have saved many hundreds of dogs over the years not to mention the joy you have personally given them by taking them for walks. I have 3 large dogs over 10 and will soon have to face a similar situation. Be strong and continue your great work for all dogs.RG

  21. I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Rocky. he was much loved

  22. Fred says:

    Thank you everyone. Thanks very much for all your messages of condolence. They are all greatly appreciated.

  23. Anonymous says:

    Rocky, Long may you run... Fred, my codolences to you and your family on your loss.
    Jon

    Where we love is home,
    Home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.
    ~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., Homesick in Heaven

  24. mel says:

    I've been playing catch-up the last few days, reading about Rocky and Stella, and I'm sorry to read about your loss, and I'm also sorry that my second comment to you is about condolenses.

    I know the last thing you probably want to do, I imagine, is continue blogging.. Without sounding like a total moron, just know that there are many people who love your blog, and you make a difference.

  25. Anonymous says:

    I am so sorry to learn of Rocky's passing. My condolences to you and your family.

    Pam

  26. Anonymous says:

    Fred, I discovered your blog by accident and am an avid reader now.. Having worked with James to take in jacks.
    I am so sory about Rocky, just know that you were blessed to have been loved by a wonderful dog loving you.

  27. Erica says:

    Fred - I'm so very sorry about your loss. You were lucky to have Rocky and he was lucky to have you. I will miss your stories about him. From Dobes everywhere, thank you for all that you do.
    Erica,
    Ontario Doberman Rescue

  28. Anonymous says:

    Fred, what a beautiful tribute you've written to your little buddy. Your words and photographs, which have delighted us, are especially lovely when you speak of Stella and Rocky.

    Jan

  29. Vida says:

    Fred - simply, my heartfelt condolences once again for the loss of a dear friend.

  30. I am so sorry Fred....I did not know when I saw you Monday. Please accept my condolences.

  31. Rika says:

    I'm very very sorry for your loss. My condolences to you and your family.

  32. I am so very sorry, Fred, you've suffered some agonizing losses. You've written a beautiful tribute to Rocky. May Rocky and Stella be playing at the Bridge, whole and healthy and happy.

  33. Anonymous says:

    What a perfect tribute to Rocky. My heart goes out to you. My sister died on March 20th 2011 and throughout her long depression and final illness your writings, philosophy and love for your dogs and all needy dogs became a very important part of her life. One Bark at a time was a comfort to her and possibly the only joy except for her own dog that she could no longer see. Up to her last day she listened to readings from your Pound dog site and was comforted to know that you are still working to help find homes for needy dogs. Thank you so much for all you do for dogs and for my sister and others who find comfort in your philosophy
    ann

  34. Fred says:

    Dear Ann, I wanted to respond to your comment right away however I'm at work and your comment is moving me to tears and it's kind of embarrassing so please excuse the brevity of my response.

    I am so very sorry to hear about the passing of your sister. I'm glad Pound Dogs and OBAAT were able to provide some comfort for her and please accept my inadequate words of support for dealing with your own sadness. Take care, Ann.

  35. siouxee says:

    Fred, I am so sorry to hear about Rocky. My thoughts are with you and my Taz says 'woofr...'

    May Rocky be playing with Stella now. I know they must be.

  36. Lynn says:

    Goodbye Rocky. You brought smiles to more people than you could ever imagine. Even though you always seemed a bit grumpy and a little too quick to tear up a chair, you and your Stella live in so many hearts now. We won't forget you.

    Thank you, Fred, for sharing their lives. Your words speak so fully for those of us who are unable to express the love of a dog like you do. I am so sorry for your loss.

  37. Hey.. we are shedding tears for your loss, but we are also marvelling at your bravery. We are sorry we are a month late.

    Hugs, Fred. And slobbery wet ones from Ish.

    Mariah & Ish

  38. Anonymous says:

    Sorry for your loss. My best friend Farley passed away in 2008 and I am still lost. Rob.

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A request

The reason for this blog is to help get specific dogs adopted from TAS but equally important is to try to normalize the idea of shelter dogs being just as good and just as desirable as any other dogs including those which are regularly merchandised by backyard breeders, puppy millers and those few remaining pet store owners who still feel a need to sell live animals. The single greatest stigma shelter animals still face is the belief that shelter animals are substandard animals. Anyone who has had enough experience with shelter animals knows this is untrue but the general public hasn't had the same experiences you've had. They see a nice dog photo in a glossy magazine and too many of them would never think of associating that dog with a dog from a shelter. After all, no one abandons perfectly good dogs, right? Unfortunately, as we all know, perfectly good dogs are abandoned all the time.

The public still too often associates shelter dogs with images of beat up, sick, dirty, severely traumatized animals and while we definitely sometimes see victims such as these, they are certainly not the majority and, regardless, even the most abused animals can very often be saved and made whole again.

Pound Dogs sometimes discusses the sad histories some of the dogs have suffered. For the most part, though, it tries to present the dogs not as victims but as great potential family members. The goal is to raise the profiles of animals in adoption centers so that a potential pet owner sees them as the best choice, not just as the charity choice.

So, here's the favour I'm asking. Whenever you see a dog picture on these pages you think is decent enough, I'd like you to consider sharing it on Facebook or any other social media sites you're using (I know many of you do this already and thank you for that). And when you share it, please mention that the dog in the photo is a shelter dog like so many other shelter dogs waiting for a home. If we can get even five percent of the pet buying public to see shelter dogs differently, to see how beautiful they are and how wonderful they are, and to consider shelter dogs as their first choice for a new family member, we can end the suffering of homeless pets in this country.
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