My Beloved Romeo

by rosemary marano
(long island new york)

March 12, 2008...a day that forever changed me. A cold, sunny New York March day.

Last Spring my Royal Standard Apricot Poodle started to slow down. When I took him for his walks, he was often exhausted getting back home.

I took him to our vet for a "geriatric" visit, Romeo was 12. Within 24 hours the vet called me and told me Romeo was very ill. After thousands of dollars of testing, we found out Romeo had an unusual form of cancer. A blood test confirmed leukemia, however the bone marrow test confirmed lymphoma. I took a second job to help pay for all his treatments and medicine. Initially, he was responsive to the treatments, but these last few months marked a steady decline in the quality of his life. Romeo could no longer get upstairs to the bedrooms in my home, no longer stand on tile floors and his accidents in the home were daily.

March 12 started as a typical day, up, ready, went to work. I got to work and summoned the courage to make the call I had dreaded. The vet would come to my home later in the day to put Romeo to sleep.

I bought a camera on the way home. I took Romeo out with his beautiful coat on and we took so many pictures. We went inside and I made him meatball sandwiches and gave him all the cookies and treats he wanted. My daughters left their jobs early to spend this last day with him. I lit a candle and took out his puppy pictures and reflected on all the joy this big boy had brought to us.

Romeo passed over "Rainbow Bridge" surrounded by a family who adored him. His passing was quiet and I promised him we would be together. He knew why the stranger was at the door. He did not even bark.

I do not know how to pay homage to this dear dog. I miss walking with him, the way he would walk so proud with his head held high, the way he loved to ride in a convertible with the breeze in his face, that beautiful face. Not a day goes by that I do not greive for my Romeo.

I was so proud to be his Mommy. I was privileged to share my life with this dear, sweet, majestic Angel.

Rosemary Marano