I’ve tried to write this twenty times and I just end up crying and starting over. There are no words to express how much Toby Ed meant to us. The best dog in the world. Toby Ed was that dog for us. He was a beautiful Minnesota golden boy who grew old and became tired, he told us he was ready to go. He crossed the rainbow bridge on a warm August day surrounded by his family who loved him very much. Toby Ed made us realize right from the beginning that he was our special dog and no other dog would ever be to us what he was – perfect . He loved, loved, loved us with all his heart. We loved him right back. Toby didn’t hold a grudge for his less than ideal start in life, at the first Ragom visit he looked into our eyes and immediately said “you’re my family”. We just looked at our photo albums and he was front and center at every family event, every picnic, every holiday, every prom, graduation and slumber party. Election night he’d wear a hat, New Year’s a tiara. He didn’t care if we dressed him like a lion for Halloween, he wanted to be there. He didn’t care if he had to ride on a float in the Small Town Parade, he just wanted to be there. In the summer he would run fast, jump high and bark in the sprinkler like our yard was the best place on earth. He liked outdoor movies and anything where his boy, Zac, was with him. The very best times were the quiet ones where we watched Netflix or just read by the fire. The ones where it was a snow day and he’d lie on the kitchen rug while we made cookies. The ones where we’d sleep in on Saturday and he’d snuggle his way to the top of the bed. The ones where we’d sit on the porch swing and look for fireflies. Nothing will be the same without Toby Ed. We knew this would be his last summer and we enjoyed every day, each day getting gentler and slower for him. As he reached the end of his life, he reminded us how precious time is and not to waste it away. The 6 years we had with him were not nearly enough. Toby Ed was the best dog in the world and we miss him every single day forever. Run fast, jump high Toby Ed - you are now truly home. We will see you again one day. You will always and forever be in our hearts. There was never a dog more loved.
An article our son Zac wrote when he was 13 appeared in the local paper: |