Corky Waisanen is in Doggy Heaven.

Corky Waisanen

Age 13, April 10, 1996 - April 06, 2010

To my best friend...you left without saying goodbye. I will never forget you Corky...

Nickname: Little Man

Corky was an amazing dog. He was my best friend. I remember, when we first saw him in the window at the pet store. He was six months old then, and his fur was very long and curly for a mini schnauzer. When we first saw him, his little stumpy tail wagged a million miles a minute and he just seemed so happy and excited to be around us. We almost did not buy him, my mom and dad wanted another breed of dog; but after a couple of hours, they realized how adorable he was and we turned around and bought him on the spot.

He was a handsome dog, he had those dark brown eyes, and long black eyelashes! He was silver, and he hopped like a rabbit for the first few days after being home.

The first night home, my dad tried to place him in a crate; and he didn't handle it well. He just whined and whined, and from then on; he slept in my room. I was his human. He followed me everywhere, if I went to to restroom he would wait for me; or try to push the door open to come in. He would bark, if I went into my bedroom and forgot to let him in.

I remember the first time he "pooped" in the house, my brother and I were watching him sniff around the house, we didn't know what he was doing until he squatted, and I remember that my brother and I just started screaming, "No! No! Corky, No!" We weren't upset, we were just startled.

His favorite treats were American Cheese slices and bananas. Haha, he could hear the "snap" of the banana peel and would go crazy!

Corky had a really bad under bite, but it didn't take away from his handsome looks. He was still my little man. He was about 9 when his front teeth began to fall out. I had tried to keep up with brushing his teeth regularly, but the vet said that the underbite had a large impact on why his teeth were falling out.

Corky rarely was sick. The only time he was ill, was the first time we took him on vacation with us. We drove to Cocoa Beach, FL and he got the "runs" and pooped everywhere. I remember my mom buying plain yogurt and plain cooked rice to help his tummy. My dad bought some air freshener, called Fruit Blessing. It was pungently sweet smelling and I will never forget the smell of poop and air freshener.

I started noticing lumps on Corky when he was about 10. The vet said that some were just large fatty tumors, and the developed a lump on his chest, and one on his arm. The vet said that as long as he was still eating, and active and happy that there was no need to be concerned.

Even at his maturing age, he was still my puppy. He was always active, and always tried to play with the other dogs even when his arthritis started kicking in. I really didn't notice much change in him until about a year ago, when years were really starting to catch up with him. His front bottom teeth fell out, except for his canines...They started to spread out, and he looked like a walrus. He was still eating, and still active; but he was taking more naps and he needed help getting on the bed.

My dad suggested putting him to sleep. I was outraged! I though, how could I put my dog to sleep? He is still full of life! Sure, he was older; and his hearing was going; but he was still healthy. I have heard that your dog will tell you when he is ready to go, and he never did.

I moved out of my home, to live with my boyfriend. The complex does not allow pets, without a Dr's note (which I qualify for) and was planning on moving Corky with me, so that he could live the remainder of his life at home with me. I received the call from my dad, while I was at work about Corky's passing. He passed in his normal "napping" spot. I didn't have a chance to discuss burial/options with my father, as he had already buried him.

My heart is broken. I didn't get to visit the house in a couple of days, and I just wish that I could have given him some "extra lovin" before he died.

I miss him so much already. He helped me grow up, he was there when I happy, sad, any mood. When I cried, he would lay his head in my lap and just look at me. When I talked, he would look at me, like he understood what I was saying. Corky was an amazing dog, he was my puppy, my little man.