10 years ago I had been invited to have dinner at a friends house. My friend let everyone in through the garage because it had been raining and there was a mud room to dry off. In the mud room was a dog cage that was about 3 feet high with a towel over it. When I entered the room the cage started to rattle and there was some commotion inside. I got on one knee and there was the cutest fluff ball poking her head through the cage and licking me. I feel in love that very moment. After a few minutes playing with my friends dog she motioned to come in and settle in for dinner. She closed the door and to the mud room and "Roxy" began to whimper. My friend looked at me and started to apologize and entered the mud room and told Roxy to be quiet in a threatening tone and that is when I knew this was a train wreck.
After a few weeks of seeing this friend it officially became dating. Although we only dated about a month I got to see Roxy at least once or twice a week. After my friend and I went our separate ways I received a call about 3 weeks later. The woman I had been dating had taken a new opportunity and she could not keep Roxy and she wanted me to have her. This was the beginning of one of the most important relationships of my life.
The day I got Roxy was a tough one for her. Loyalties are tough to break and although my friend was not the best owner Roxy was hers. After a couple of days curled on the rug by the front door Roxy eventually made her way t o my room where I had prepared a big bed for her and that was the start of an incredible relationship between a man and his dog.
Roxy went everywhere with me and I just enjoyed her company and really could not picture a day without her. Some say a dog is an inconvenience, but I have 3 kids and they are not an inconvenience and yes you have to be responsible with them and take care of them...I like that.
My children were living with their Mother in NJ and I missed them terribly, but with Roxy at my side life seemed to go a little easier...actually a lot easier. She was incredibly therapeutic and she would come with me to NJ for visits. My x-wife actually loved Roxy and eventually got two dogs for herself. Again...I believe that the dogs helped ease the pain from my divorce.
When I started to date again the criteria was no more kids and must love dogs. Roxy was loved by all the women I dated and it was easy to weed out someone just by the way Roxy reacted.
I have been with the same woman for over 7 and a half years and most of that time was with Roxy. At first things were great and she was very accepting until her undercoat began to be found all over the place. Not only was Roxy not allowed back at the house, but my girlfriend's attitude began to change when it came to where Roxy could or could not be. Our relations became very tumultuous and it started to really wear on me. I resented my girlfriend and sometimes just hated her for treating Roxy like she did. It hurt me very much and to this day I still harbor some ill feelings to her...and we are still together.
When Roxy passed away I became very depressed and a at a loss. I felt some resentment toward my girlfriend and really noticed how much free time and how much responsibility I just lost. Frankly...I like the responsibility and it makes me feel great.
I am sitting here today on a Sunday looking at a picture of Roxy just imagining her with head on my lap or when she would literally hug me while sitting on the couch. When I would get up and say leash...she would go crazy and put the leash in her mouth and run to the door. I also remember when she was not feeling good...the things that made her happy got no response...that is when I knew she was in trouble. I loved taking care of her, because she took care of me...everyday. I miss Roxy and she really took the edge off of life...going on walks...hanging at home together...hiking together...and just knowing that we had each others back. I am just a man who had a wonderful dog and wishes he had her today.
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