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My sweet boy Marcus

by Cheryl Bailey
(Fairdale,WV, USA)

Marcus was a three day old orphan when he was given to me. I loved him from first sight!

I had a cocker spaniel, Nicky who had a litter of month old puppies. I put the three little rottweiler puppies next to the month old cockers and there wasn't much difference in their size at all. Nicky is an awesome mother and just took those black & rust babies right in as her own. As they got older I had to take the tinest female rottie to the Vet as she wasn't growing very good. To my disappointment she had to be put down leaving another female and my Marcus. At around six weeks of age I had the two rottie pups out and one of my bichons wooled the female to death for some reason. Leaving only my Marcus...

He grew up with Nicky and her pups, never knowing that he wasn't a cocker spaniel! Abet a rather large cocker, but he never knew another rottweiler growing up. I sure didn't want him breeding any of my little girls so I had him neutered at six months of age. He was such a good boy and so well mannered too. I never had to worry about being broken into as he grew up to be HUGE... His head reached almost to my waist!

I had my boy for only five years when he started having trouble walking. I took him to the Vet and his knees & hips both were bad. But after trial and error with med.s he was able to walk again mostly pain free. That was last fall. This spring, on April 25th, after being outside in the yard he came inside and laid down at my feet. Never taking another step... Even that night he was unable to walk to his bed beside my bed. He had to be carried to the bedroom.

The next morning I called the Vet Clinic and made an appointment for him. We had to use towels to support him as we carried him to the truck. At the Vets they used a gurney to carry him into the clinic. After the exam and feeling his ice cold feet and legs I had to say goodbye to my boy. It was SO HARD to do, but it was the last gift that I could give him. Freedom from pain... He didn't want to leave me and tried not to go. After they tranquilized him it still took two huge syringes full of the euthanasia solution to stop his great big heart. I kept telling him that I would be OK and he could go but he didn't want to leave me.

Finally his breathing and his heart stopped. I cried and cried as I am crying as I write this. There will never be another Rottie "Cocker Spaniel" as there will never be another dog like my Marcus. RIP Marcus I love and miss you so much. I visit your grave by the barn almost every day.

We planted flowers on it and your little friend Bella lays on it as she would lay on you here in the house. I think that she knows that it is your final resting place and that is why she lays there. Your half sister GiGi is here but she is nothing like you precious boy... Anita says that she will get me another rottie but it will never be you. I adopted a blue tick hound pup, Lucy, from an animal shelter in your memory and I swear I can finally feel that you are at peace and no longer worry about me so. Lucy visits your grave with me also. I feel as if she gets how much you meant to me. She has taken over your job of keeping check on my breathing at night. Making sure that I don't stop. I know that you sent her to me precious boy. Love you.