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Tasha, My Best Friend

© Marci Stocks

In tribute to my best friend Tasha, I would like to tell you our story for Pet Memorial Month.

When I was younger, I was so frightened of animals. I was the kid who would run away from a small dog. Well, at age 3 all dogs, even toy poodles, seemed huge. So you can only imagine when I met Tasha for the first at age 4. She was a Black Labrador/German Shepherd mix. I was so scared, yelling at my dad to get "that dog" away from me. For some reason Tasha took to me. She kept coming up to me and resting her head on my lap. After a few weeks, I started to get used to this HUGE dog. My brother and I would visit my father throughout the year.

When I was 10, my brother and I moved to Florida to live with our dad. I was most excited about living with Tasha though. In a new state, I didn't have any friends and was lonely. Tasha instantly became my best friend. I took her for walks everyday, we were inseparable. She would let me play dress up with her as well. I would dress her in shirts, put eyeshadow and blush on her, and she even let me paint her nails- BLUE! I would call her my Little Sister.

Seven years later was the saddest day of my life. Tasha had been sick for a couple of years off and on. She had a tumor on her right paw that kept growing. The doctor felt that surgery would be worse for her. She had difficulties walking and she was having problems with her hip. Her tumor had opened up and would not stop bleeding. My Step-Mom rushed her to the animal hospital. She was told that if Tasha underwent surgery, that she would not come out of it. Tasha was 17, that is approximately 119 in people years.

The decision was made that Tasha would be let to sleep. Right before the doctor was about to let Tasha rest, Tasha looked up at my Step-Mom, licked her cheek, and then looked at the doctor as if to say, "Ok, I am ready to go to Rainbow Bridge, so I can walk, jump, and be whole again." She rested her head on my Step-Mom's arm and fell asleep.

My dad called me at work and told me. I was so shocked, feeling guilty that I did not kiss her good-bye before I went to work. But now I know that Tasha knew how much I loved her and cherished her. I still do.