Remembering Rosco

In the Beginning

It wasn’t a good meeting at first. My sister had just acquired this pup and was picking me up from work. Rosco was so full of energy and enthusiasm, yet in the car ride, he was a nervous wreck. So much so, that he emptied out his bladder onto the front passenger seat. Not the golden shower kind, but a number two. It was disgusting, and it almost reminded me of elephant droppings, because that’s what it literally looked like.

My sister and I had to get the seat looking representable again because no one will want to sit in a seat where they see dog poop stains, right? I mean this wasn’t the best way to win the hearts of your new owners, and definitely not the way to win over anyone else’s for that matter. But there was something special about this pup, something you couldn’t see at first sight.

Rosco was lovable and super sweet. He knew how you felt and would cuddle with you when he knew you weren’t feeling very good. And when you were feeling better, he had enough energy to want to tackle a grizzly bear, not that we’d have let him do that. Still, you couldn’t stay mad at a pup when he had eyes like those. Blue on one side, dark brown in the other.

Living with Rosco

It wasn’t the easiest to live with him. Every time he had to go, he couldn’t wait until he was out the door. But through patience and determination, he learned how to hold it long enough for when he could finally go out. My part of the job taking care of him, was to walk him out, take him to do his thing, help him get to know the area better, and come back refreshed and ready to play.

I remember one time when we lived by a college dormitory, right by the local state university, where I walked him and girls would come up and comment/compliment on how cute he looked. He was a total chick magnet. Me on the other hand, was not so hip. But I also wasn’t walking him to pick up chicks, I was merely doing my part to take care of him as needed.

There was another time when we planned to cook some steak for dinner. I had just unwrapped the steak and set it down onto a plate. I left for a few to go to the bathroom and when I came back? That steak was gone. No where to be found. Rosco was watching the whole time and waited until the most opportune time to make his move. Bad puppy. I never told him that, but I was definitely thinking it. So instead of steak, we had pizza for dinner.

The Final Years

As Rosco aged, so did his energy levels. He couldn’t do things I was used to him doing. At this point I wasn’t even living with him anymore. I had my own family and we lived out of state. Rosco never forgot us though. He loved how much attention he got when we would visit, and yes when I came to visit, I was walking him around again as I did way back in the beginning.

I never got to say goodbye to Rosco. My sister, niece, and mom were there when he finally passed. It was a very sad day because he died in my sister’s arms. I’m not sure how it went for him, but at least he is resting in peace and died around those who loved him.

Today I remember you Rosco, you were a pain at times but you were always a puppy until the end. Goodbye old pal. Maybe we’ll see you again someday.