Nixon is in Doggy Heaven.

Nixon

Age 12, April 25, 1999 - October 26, 2011

to me Nixon was the most beautiful dog, inside and out. His love was the greatest, ever!

Nickname: Oso, Peluche

I still remember when I saw him for the first time, he fooled me and my husband pretending he was the smartest puppy in the pack (we figured out later that he wasn't). He was so playful and bonded with us right away. But what I fell in love with were his eyes. He looked at me in a very special way and with such love and he didn't even know me.

That was 12 years ago. A lifetime filled with memories. Some good, some not so great, like chewing on my shoes (but not my husband's) or digging 3 ft holes in our backyard, or the times when the weather was below 0 degrees and we would have to chase after him because he decided to escape and run free.

But since the very first moment he always was there for us, standing by us no matter what.

We've moved so many times and he never complained. The only thing he cared about was being with us. It didn't matter where, the house, the town. He was just happy if he was with us. In fact, he made all these moves a lot easier and he would make me feel at home right away because every time I would walk through the door he would come greet me wagging his tail so hard it would knock me down sometimes.

His love for me was unconditional, honest, transparent...the greatest love, ever. He probably wasn't the smartest or the best. He was actually a horrible retriever! But to me, he was the most beautiful dog, inside and out.

Dogs can't say words but sure they speak to us through their acts. When I was sick he would sit next to my bed and wait patiently without leaving until I was better. He knew when I was sad and would come to lick my face or just keep me company. In his last days he could hardly walk and getting up from his bed was a struggle but he would always gather the strenth to come and greet me at the door. To me that's more than words can say.

He was my first child.

When we made the decision to put him to sleep I wanted for him to be at home. He departed peacefully the way I wanted. At home, on his own bed and with me and my husband by his side. Before he passed I could feel his body so relaxed and calm. Like I hadnt felt it in a long time. He looked at me and I know he told me "thank you mama, I love you so much!"

We told our son that his "brother" was going to sleep forever and that he would go to heaven where he would be happy again and he won't feel pain anymore. He'll be able to jump and play with other dogs and that someday we will see him again. I told my son that because I truly believe I will reunite with Nixon and when the time comes he will be there waiting for me to walk through the door and he will come and greet me wagging his tail so hard and licking my face until it gets stinky and sticky!

I miss him so much! My life won't be the same without him. But I thank God for putting Nixon in my life, for giving me a beautiful, healthy child, a wonderful, caring husband and the opportunity to live life fully.