Mochi and Misha were not my first fur babies. I had a Maltese shih tzu mix before, named Yuski (pronounced u'ski). We bought Yuski from a pet store when we didn't know any better. He endured a lot under our care. At times, he was locked out in the garden when friends of ours come, who are scared of dogs. Despite we had no dog doors, he would hold for all day, at times long day, while his humans are at work. Yet, he loved his humans without limit, all the way until his very last breath.
No such mistake when Mochi and Misha came, through a reputed breeder. They came with predigree papers. They came with us wherever we go. Friends won't come to our home if they can't stand dogs, not that ours are fierce man eaters. No, they are calm and friendly. Of course they would bark a bit at the beginning in excitement. They came to us when they were one year old.
Unfortunately, before they turned two, Misha the girl started to have seizures and was diagonsed with Syringoyelia. Her beautiful round head wasn't good for her, keeping her cranal fluids from going around properly and ended up building up in her spine, crushing it over time. We were told she will eventually be paralysed and people would put down their dog for this condition. We went to a number of vets, specialists, one of which was a brain surgeon, without a great deal of success. Eventually found one vet who used to treat large animals. He took us away from modern meds and went back to traditional seizure meds. Misha had many years of almost seizure free happy life until about six months before she left.
Even in the last months before she left, she would run to me like there is no tomorrow, stumbling and rolling over, getting up and keep running to her daddy. On her last day, she stopped eating and left in my arms at home. She was a sweet angel.
Her brother Mochi, because of his sister's special needs, became very protective. He would bark at other dogs who come near, especially big ones who are many times his size / weight. Once these other dogs pass his character checks, he would befriends them and would play with them. Misha would join in as well if it is not too rough.
When Mochi got sick at the beginning of this year with cancer in the salivary gland. Being so close to the spine / brain, it could not be operated on. He slowly lost weight, drooled a lot and he barked less. He no long chase other dogs but would rollover / lie down / backrub in the grass and soak up the sun while other dogs run around him. Many humans who know his condition will try to entice him to eat treats. Thank you to all the uncles and aunties who loved him before his passing. He earned his right to eat whatever he pleases. We would handfeed him and break our rules to share our meals with him, let him eat fried chicken, anything and everything he wants, until he eventually stopped completely.
Mochi left on Friday, 13th Dec, 20234. We took him to the park in the morning to enjoy his fav park one last time. Very peacefully he went over the rainbow bridge that day at noon. We hope he has found his sister and will run with her like he once did. Both free of pain and filled with joy.
We love you our sweet angles. Rest well. You have been good boy and girl.
