Tyson (Beard Bowers / Bull Mastiff X Staffy) is in Doggy Heaven.

Tyson (Beard Bowers / Bull Mastiff X Staffy)

Age 11, July 09, 1999 - February 02, 2011

Our Little Man Forever Free

Nickname: Tysie, Boyo, Old Man, Sweet Man, Shit Lips, Grumpy

**Friday 4th February 2011**

Your Daddy and I met and fell in love with you at Pet's Paradise at Kippa-Ring on the 7th November 1999. The sign on your playpen said Bull Mastiff X Staffy, 7 weeks old, small to medium size dog. You were the smallest little boy out of the whole litter (the runt they told us) and whilst every one of your brothers and sisters were jumping around for attention and squealing with puppy delight, you were happy to curl up and sleep, just raising an eye to see what all the fuss was about. We were drawn to you straight away and I think I said to your Daddy something alone the lines of "awwwww he's so cute and little and he's got a nice quiet temperament, maybe that is how he'll be for life". We played with you at the store but you were most happiest when Trev held you in his arms and you fell asleep all cosy and warm. I just knew we'd be great puppy parents. You had successfully wormed your way into our hearts at that moment so naturally you became part of our little family. We were the proudest puppy mum & dad. We bought you all nice new things like your own kennel, your own clock (so you could hear the ticking to remind you of your mum), a water bottle (for you to curl up on), and the cutest little Pumba toy that was almost as big as you were! We both couldn't take our eyes off you because you were so adorable. Your eyes were piercing yellow and your fur was the softest black of all. Your eyes and feet were too big for you though and daddy and I used to joke about how big you were going to grow.

Our first night together was interesting indeed. Mummy and daddy had never had a puppy before and we didn't know what to expect, but geez we learned quick smart how big your lungs were after we put you to bed that night in the laundry with all your new things. Wheeewheeewheeewheeeewheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee went your staffy cry and I swear it got louder and louder! So we relocated all of your things into our bedroom, along with a small mountain of newspaper (in case of accidents), to see if you would calm down and let US get some sleep. We would put you in your kennel and pat you a while until those little eyes closed and then we'd sneak back to bed. Sometimes you would come padding out crinkling the newspaper as you did your clumsy puppy walk all the way over to the side of the bed. We knew you were there but we'd try and ignore you as you scrambled along the side of the bed trying in vain to get our attention. "Back to your bed" we would eventually say to you as we got out and placed you gently back into your kennel. We must have fallen asleep eventually and I remember being woken by you at some ungodly hour chewing with those sharp puppy teeth on my finger tips. So I'd pick you up by the scruff of your neck and place you into bed right between us where you'd turn around a few times, flop down and doze off in our warmth. When we woke in the mornings you'd be either laying wrapped around the top of daddy's head or you had made your way down to the bottom of the doona and managed to chew the decorative wooden buttons on the cover. I still have that doona cover with the buttons half chewed off and don't think I can ever part with it. More often than not you slept in our bed than your own. But you soon grew out of that as time went on and from gentle persuasion from Daddy and I.

Play times were always fun. You'd pad along with those big paws stumbling and all clumsy following us around the house. When you found Pumba you would take him in your little jaws and shake the life out of him which was just hilarious when Pumba was as big as you were. I have a photo of you in my purse taken when you were just 7 wks old. You'll old pal pumba is in the background. It has been in my purse for 11yrs now where it will always remain. I keep it there to sneak a peek at you whenever I miss you. I am missing you more than ever now, Tyson, my beautiful old man.

We used to have a swimming pool in those days, Tysie and when we went swimming you'd sit watching us at the side, alert to our every move and splash. Then one day you jumped right in, grabbed hold of the creepy crawly and tried to drag it to the edge, almost drowning yourself in the process. From that day on, you'd whine and jump in straight after us to try and "save" us. I've always joked with daddy saying I think you must have been a lifesaver in a past life.

You loved going for swims, sometimes even taking yourself for a swim if we were at work. You were so smart though, you'd go and take the neighbours dogs with you for fun and company and you'd all be back in enough time to dry off before the humans got home from work. We were none the wiser until a neighbour burst your bubble. You were always a free spirit, having so much fun swimming or just running around exploring the bushes, delightful scents and smells, running backwards and forwards between daddy and I. I don't know how you did it but you always used to find something absolutely disgusting and dead to roll in. No amount of coaxing or scolding could make you stop either. You had to have it ALL over, the stinkier the better. You actually did the very thing when Daddy and I were driving up from Melbourne to Queensland with you in the car. We stopped for a driver reviver break and to toilet and water you, when you took off down this river embankment (with you on lead and me holding it!), just to roll around wildly in something dead and decomposing. You had lost your footing because of your bad leg and I had to haul you up the embankment by just the lead. I thought your head was going to come off. You were fine though when you found your feet and proceeded to look as proud as punch even though you made us want to puke. Did I mention we were in the car with that smell! My goodness that smell! Windows down for a long portion of that trip until the rain started. :)

We could never work out how you used to get out until a thunderstorm one afternoon whilst mummy and daddy were at work. A neighbour rang us to tell us you had climbed up the chicken coup, got onto the tin shed and swan dived off the shed over the fence into the next yard where you could easily escape. How you didn't shatter your feet or legs I do not know. You have always been a tough boy. We then took to putting you in a safe place in the laundry with your favourite things, where you would be quite content to sleep all day. This gave us peace of mind when a storm would come that you weren't putting yourself in danger because of how frightened you would get.

You were such a gentle giant. You even let the chickens jump all over you and peck at you whilst you were out sunbaking in the yard. You never snapped at them or hurt them. You just used to watch them, having a look in your yellow eyes like "do you mind, trying to sleep here".

You loved your baths, the best part was the soapy massage mummy and daddy used to give you. You'd get so excited during the rinse cycle that you couldn't sit still because you knew a great game was coming up next as part of the routine. Once we got you rinsed off you'd stand as close to us as possible and shake from the top to your very bottom and then go tearing off running around the yard like a mad man. Rolling in the grass, rubbing your head face first down along the grass, panting happily and trotting around as if to say "look at me I'm all spick and span". Then we'd make a game of drying you off with the towell. That was one of my favourite times because you'd snuggle right into my lap with the towell around your face first. It was the same everytime. You'd always want your face dried off first, then I'd work my way down. You weren't real fond of having your feet done and it used to make you go physco sending you running with the zoomies around and around the back yard, panting and giving us that goofy smile. It was so funny and made us laugh so hard. You used to run around like a mad man when it was windy too. I used to say to daddy that I thought the wind whistled in your ears driving you crazy.

You always used to sleep under our bedroom window. I guess you could hear us talking at night before going to bed. As you grew older you favoured your padded beds but you were always up early to greet us outside our bedroom window, waiting patiently for us to shower and get ready for work to have your breakky. In the last 12 months you lived inside with us in Melbourne because it was so cold and your bones were getting arthritic. We gave you a very very special place to sleep at night - right at the bottom of our bed, on your own padded bed, with a pillow and blanket to keep you warm. You loved being covered by the blanket even when we had the heater going. If you ever needed to go to the toilet during the night Daddy has told me you would come around my side of the bed, nudging me and giving a gentle cry but I sleep quite heavy when Daddy is home and I would never wake up. So you would trudge around to Dad's side of the bed and he would get up to take you outside. Sometimes you would be quick and sometimes you'd take forever to find the right spot. You never did both businesses in the same spot. You always went for wee wees in one spot then you'd go dashing around the yard sniffing out the best spot for number 2's. You were always so modest and often went behind the cover of trees or bushes but always within earshot and line of sight. We were always patient with you but in the middle of winter in Melbourne it was sometimes difficult to do, because you started getting worried we'd leave you outside and would often refuse to go out unless we waited outside on the edge of the patio in your line of sight. We had to go further outside as your eyesight started to deteriorate.

I have so many more memories to share with you Tysie and I will be back to add them as I can. I keep getting upset because you aren't out there on the back patio lounging around on your day bed or looking at me through the back door with longing eyes. I know that in time it will get easier for us as we learn to deal with our grief. I am comforted by the fact you are there looking over us. When you passed over on Wednesday, Steph the vet who was caring for you, told me that you would not close your eyes. I'm glad you didn't because I've always loved your beautiful piercing yellow eyes and I was watching them until the end as I held you and caressed your soft velvety ears. Steph said to me you would be looking over me forever. Thank you Tysie for all the wonderful years we had together. You will always remain in our hearts and never will be forgotten. Rest in peace my sweet old man. Jez, Buddy, Pepper, Salt, Samuel, Charlie will all be waiting up there for you to play together until we can meet again at the Rainbow Bridge.
Love you always boyo, Mummy xxoo

A Pet's Plea
If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep
Then you must do what must be done
For this, the last battle, can't be won.
You will be sad- I understand
Don't let your grief then stay your hand
For this day, more than all the rest
Your love and friendship stand the test.
We've had so many happy years
What is to come can hold no fears
You'd not want me to suffer, so
When the time comes, please let me go.
I know in time you too will see
It is a kindness you do to me
Although my tail, it's last has waved
From pain and suffering I've been saved.
Don't grieve that it should be you
Who has decided this thing to do
We've been so close, we two these years
Don't let your heart hold any tears.
Author Unknown

04 February 2011 - Thanks for coming to me in my dreams Tyson. You will always be my puppy boy. I love you Sweet Man, Mummy xx

06 February 2011 - Your best mate Harley has not been himself Tysie. Would you please visit with him in his dreams and tell him you're ok?

Your Aunty Karen and I asked Harley where you were yesterday because he was looking a little lost. He looked at his bed where you'd usually be hogging sound asleep on your back with you legs in the air. He then looked back at us as if to say "I don't know". It made us both cry for you Tysie, my old man. They were tears of sadness and joy as we remembered your funny ways.

When I went to bed last night Harley jumped up on the end of my bed (you know he never does that on my bed) where he laid on one of your yellow pillows. It made me cry. I really think he is missing you too, Boyo.

I hope you are having fun in heaven playing with the others. Make sure you don't play too rough up there shit lips, there will be puppies and others who are smaller than you, so please play gentle. I love you Tysie. Mummy xx

08 February 2011 - I miss you like crazy my furry little boy. I woke up with a terrible ache in my heart today because you weren't in your usual spot at the end of my bed, nor could I hear the familiar tap of your tail. I hope you are resting well my love. Love Mummy xx

09 February 2011 - It's been a week without you here by my side, boyo. I miss you so much it hurts. I am not liking this ache in my shattered heart. I know your memory lives on and you'll always hold a special place in my heart.

I was laying there in bed thinking of you and your funny ways. How you'd be nudging my arm and attempting to give me a good morning smooch/lick on the chin. I miss coming home to your welcome home speak, always grabbing a toy as a present and talking with your beautiful voice. Sometimes it would be a gentle Grrrrrrooooooo, other times when you were more excited a ggggrrrrooooGGGGGGRRRRRROOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOrrrroroooooogrrrooo that would almost erupt into a happy bark. The loudness sometimes used to give me (and you, i think!) such a fright but you'd be so happy to see me come home after a day at work. You knew the sound of Daddy's car and if you were lounging around inside whilst Mummy cooked dinner, you'd keep an ear out listening for his arrival. You'd greet Daddy with the same vigour and once again there was never a toy far away that you couldn't grab and rush to meet him at the door, ready for a wrestle.

You were such a gentle giant tysie, one day when I was walking you with your Aunty Karen near some bushland near our house, a massive Kangaroo hopped across our path. It was hilarious to see you look at it with your ears straight up, glance back at us with that smile of yours, then look back at the Kangaroo as if to say - check out the size of that, can I go play????? You used to want to play with the horses when they walked down along our back fences. We used to feed them all carrots and you'd be running around, getting into that playful front paws down, bum up stance and that tail of yours would be going like crazy. I always joked with Daddy saying you probably thought they were oversided dogs or something.

When I was raising the chicks, you'd lay by their box inside like a giant protector. When they grew up a little, you'd let them snuggle into your belly when we'd sit outside on the warm concrete in the sun together.

You especially like going for a swim and many a time Daddy and I took you to Deception Bay foreshore to frolic on the mud flats and splash in the shallows. You'd bolt around chasing the birds, sniffing the mud and sand, but you were at your happiest when Daddy threw something for you. Sometimes it would be your ball or a prized stick we'd find on the beach. Sometimes we'd let you bring the stick home where you'd chew it up into a million pieces. It was very messy but I'm sure to you it was awesome fun!

When we lived in Kallangur the first time, you had to be on a runner because you had taken to missing us so much and scaling the fence to get out. Our neighbour at the time had lots of cats that used to stalk through our backyard and drive you nuts. They were game kitties, not worried about the big black boy with piercing yellow eyes at all. We had set up the runner so you could reach the full yard, get to your food and water but short enough to avoid the fences. I remember coming home from work one day and found our BBQ spread around the backyard in pieces. I wish I was a fly on the wall that day! How you managed to move it and get it all into separate pieces I'll never know because it weighed a tonne! Your strenght has always astounded us, Tysie, but you were always so gentle with us. Your tail could pack a punch as times though. It would spin around in cirles so fast I used to call it helicopter tail. I'm surprise you didn't ever take off, backside first!!!!! Your helicopter tail was activated whenever Daddy was around. I know you loved him so much. He was your pack leader and you would have done anything for him. I know he's over there in the Middle East missing you something shocking. Please visit him in his dreams, Tyson, because I think he needs to see you again.

I have another difficult job to do this week. That is receiving your ashes home to me. I'm happy to receive them but not, because I'd much rather see you running in through that door, hearing the familiar click of your nails on the tiles and hear that wonderful gggggrrrrrrggggrrrrrrooggggrrrrrrooooooo greeting of yours. I'd love to feel you rub along my legs like you used to do like a cat and I'd love to gaze into those yellow depths. Sweet dreams my boy, mummy and daddy love you very much. xx

13 February 2011 - There's so many everyday things that remind me of you, Tysie. There is saddness in my heart I have never felt before. Time is all that can ease it. I love you and miss you more than words can say boyo. Love always, Mummy xx

8 April 2011 - I wish I was with you Tyson. Another day closer. xx

18 April 2011 - another day down Tysie. I love and miss you old man puppy. xx

4 May 2011 - Thank you Tysie for coming into our lives and making it so much happier. Now we miss hearing you snore and grumble. :)

4 February 2016 - It's been 5 years since I lost you Tysie. You're always in my heart and never far from my thoughts. Daddy and I are no longer together. We split in 2012 and divorced not long after but we both still love you all the same. Some things never change and that includes my love for you. There's many moments that remind me of you and many a time that I have shed a silent tear because I miss you so much. I attempted to watch Marley and me not long after Daddy and I separated. All I remember is hearing a god awful animal like howling during one if the sad parts where their dog passes away. It took me a moment to realise that noise was coming from me. I was feeling the losses of everything. You my boy, my marriage, my home, my life. I do have two new furry friends to be my companions. One Boy is totally different to you. I think you'd love him and no doubt you will get to meet him one day. His name is Jersey. He's a pocket rocket Jack Russell X mini foxie terrier. Hes also white and light brown just like the colour of a jersey caramels which is where he got his name. He's so full of life and character but he's also a little smoocher. He does this strange thing though when he comes into my bedroom. He goes to the same spot in my room and he gives a few playful barks looking at the same space and then proceeds to roll on the floor a couple of times just like he's wrestling with another dog. Then he takes off running through the house with the zoomies as though he is being chased. His ears are back, tail tucked under and he goes and goes and goes. Then he flops on his bed panting with a huge grin on his face. I sometimes ask out loud if your here playing with him. I don't know if I expect an answer since dogs can't talk but I feel like you are. I also have a cat named Jupiter. She was a stray cat that moved into your kennel only a week after you passed away. She was very needy and very unwell. Her fur was falling out, she was covered in fears and was skin and bone. Not to mention not at all friendly. I still had all your bedding and food and toys so I started feeding her and looking after her. She was really skittish and would scram at sight of me. But the we started getting lots and lots of rain and she took to camping in a tight ball either on my front step out of the rain or in your kennel. I started leaving the back door open when I was home pottering about until one day she walked right in going from room to room like she owned the place. Then she went and got comfy on the lounge and has stayed ever since. She too stares at space on my bedroom and runs playfully out with the wide cat eyes and the zoomies. You were never fond of cats but I think you'd like her. Jersey and her are best of mates. They wrestle together and then sleep side by side. She even grooms him. Having them both in my life is a blessing but they don't fill the enormous hole your passing left in my heart. Some wounds will never heal. I love you Tysie, now and forever more. Love mummy xxoo