In Memory of Toby
Have fun at Rainbow Bridge Toby   
  I just wanted to send you an email to say Thank You both for allowing us to adopt Toby and to have the time we did with our Tobe and to send you some photos of The Toby. Of course we're still sad that we don't have our Toby but we also have no regrets as in we know there was nothing we could of done for Toby, although it was a shock and so sad for all of us Toby wasn't in pain and as you said to Bryan Gillian, Toby went with his dignity. It's so sad that his mind was still willing but his body wasn't. I was devasted I wasn't with Toby and although I didn't get to say goodbye to Toby on the Wednesday when sadly he had to be PTS. When I left for work on the Monday I did what I normally did and gave Toby (and Stan) a cuddle, kissed them, told them I loved them and I'd see them Friday. Sadly I didn't see Toby Friday but when Toby most needed his Daddy (I never did manage to 'steal' Toby from Bryan) his Daddy was there for him and stayed with Toby until he left us and Toby was surrounded by 'Man love' his Daddy with him the whole time, the Male Vet, then Ade and Stan waiting outside. Toby taught us so much and for myself the main thing was Toby taught me work/life balance. Before I would complete a contract on a Friday and have to have the next one lined-up for the Monday or Monday of the next week. Where as with Toby when I completed the contract at Avon I couldn't wait to spend some time with the Boys and took 4months off and I'm so pleased I did and had that time with Toby. When I feel sad I think of all the lovely memories we had with Toby and the time we did have with our Toby; Spring and our Holiday, Summer, Winter - Christmas and New Years Eve, this year - Valentines day and their Gotcha day. Of course we wish we had longer than the 13mths we had and we we're convinced we'd have another Summer, Christmas and Gotcha day with Toby. I love the memories of Toby doing his 'Security patrols' around the House and Garden and miss hearing Toby padding around at home on them and how we were always on 'red alert'! and how Toby decided it was his job to protect us! and 'tell off' Dogs or even people on our walks. Gillian, I remember your advice from the homecheck of Toby, bless him being mouth and no trousers which could attract negative attention from other Dogs. We would of course put the Boys on their leads if we saw other Dogs on their leads and walk on the other side of the Road (as the 3 of us walking would take-up the whole pavement!) Fortunately Toby was just a natural authority figure! and commanded respect! and there was never any trouble with other Dogs. There's a Rottie that's either just moved to this area in the last couple of months or his Dad has just started walking the Rottie around here and Toby would bark at the Rottie telling him to stay away from his Family! and the Rottie would always just ignore Toby - as in not even look at Tobes and the Dad would always smile at Toby! even on the Monday of the week Toby passed away, Bryan walked the Boys and Toby 'told off' some kids that were messing around on the other side of the Road. Even though Toby told people and Dogs off he was such a sweety and had no nastyness in him and would be fine with Dogs after he'd told them off and would 'allow' stangers to fuss him and was great with Children and such a Gentleman with Women. Toby was funny - telling people off when they left his House by barking at them as he didn't want them to leave and they hadn't his permission to do so! With Toby's natural authority! I can remember at the beginning of December we stayed-up to watch the Ricky Hatton fight and had 2 friends over - both had met Toby before quite a few times but because we we're all staying-up late to watch it, Toby was like it 'this is not part of my routine'! and we felt like we were in trouble! Shaun one of our friends that was over - who grew-up with big GSDs! I can remember him asking me if Toby was asleep, I said yes and Shaun said he wanted to go to the toilet but didn't want to wake Toby up or startle him and I said Toby was fine. Then I realised Shaun was a bit nervous that he'd be told off by Toby! and I tried not to smile! A few weekends before we lost Toby, on a Sunday the 4 of us were having a walk in the woods and there was an old Chap - as in late 80s, even 90s and he was having a stroll with his Wife and walking with the aid of 2 walking sticks and they stopped to fuss Toby and Stan and the Woman asked how old Toby was and Bryan told her and the Chap asked me to repeat Toby's age and I said in Dog years Toby is over 120yrs old! and this Chap, was amazed at Toby's age and when they walked off, metaphorically speaking of course - the Chap may of well thrown his walking sticks away and skipped to the field! Toby definitely showed him age is just a number! The last photos I took of Toby was at the Easter weekend when we we're going to all go Camping (in the Toby and Stan Van!) but we decided on the day it was too cold and wouldn't be fair on the Boys, eventhough we'd bought sleeping bags for the Boys and an inflatable bed for them the 3 of us (as Ade was going as well) decided to wait until it was properly Spring and then summer before going. Which sadly we won't with the Tobe but we went to Carsington Water for the day and I took some photos then. On the way back we stopped at a Dog friendly pub that Ade knows in Cromford (we realised we'd never taken the Boys to a pub before! they'd been in the beer garden at the Cat & Fiddle last summer - when Toby made a bee line for that attractive Woman!) Toby was on security patrol! - it's a tiny pub and Toby was checking everyone out! the Girl behind the bar loved the Boys and brought them a treat over each! With Toby and Stan they both received so many compliments and fusses from people! Toby was never left out which I loved! I can remember earlier this year coming back from a walk with the Boys and as we were almost home and walking down our road, I can remember there was a Chap some distance behind us and as we got to our house - he must of been jogging to get to the Boys! he'd caught up and gave the Boys a fuss each and was telling me how lucky I was (which I know! but was very proud to hear!) to have such lovely Dogs and how good they were and he wasn't asking if they were rescue or if Toby was older just simply saw how beautiful they were and had to tell them and give them a fuss! Toby was such a character as you know! I loved how Toby would do his Security patrols and be all strict but was also Mr Cuddles! and pretending to be aloof but in a way was cuddlier than Stan! as Toby would let us give him big cuddles (where as Stan gets over excited and runs off to grab a toy or whatever!) and Bryan and Toby would have their 'Man love' where Toby would allow Bryan to pick him up and he'd sit on Bryans lap having cuddles - but Toby would only allow 20mins. then went back on patrol! sometimes with me Toby would be stingy : ) and I'd only be allowed 1/4 of his tummy to tickle, or if I was more privileged 1/2, really lucky and I was allowed full tummy! but I can remember just over a month ago, I had a whole hour and a half with Toby love! where Toby lied down on his side in the evening on the floor and I went and sat on the floor next to Toby, I remember there was some hour documentary about kamikaze Pilots on TV and then something else for 30mins afterwards and for that whole time I was allowed full tummy tickles! I can remember my legs went dead but I felt so privileged I didn't want to move! and then Toby was suddenly all 'what am I doing, I've got patrols to do'! I loved when Toby acted 'goofy' and would have his mad 5mins. with a toy (and he could thrash around when playing when we'd pretend to get the toy off him!), or when he got really excited and do his 'whoop whoop' where he'd jump a little with his front legs of the ground! and fit Stans head in his mouth! also how Toby was 'danger Dog' if there was flat ground and uneven ground - Toby would always go for the uneven ground! I can remember on holiday - miles of sandy beach with a tiny part of rocks and caves right on the other side and actually running after Toby where he made a beeline for the rocks and I got there in time to get to stand on them and I was trying to guide Toby off them, then had to get infront of him and block him! I was slipping on them, to stop him! Just at home, the step into the garden is just one brick-height high and Toby wouldn't ever just put one front paw out, then the next and then his back paws. He'd always jump out with both front paws, followed by the jump with his back paws. My stomach would sometimes flip and I can remember Tobys Granny "saying she can't believe" Toby does that and would hold her breath when she saw him do it! We also felt privileged when we got attention from Toby as he rationed it! : ) where as Stan does it all the time! Bryan and I were so silly we'd proudly tell each other (we'd actually compete!) when we'd got a tail wag from Toby that day, or kisses or a lick of him! I so miss Toby kisses : ( Toby just had so much pride! very occasionally he'd slip but would pretend he meant to do it! infront of me, he'd look at me like 'yes it looked like I was walking from the front room to the garden but I decided to have a little lie-down for a few seconds, why are you looking at me freaky Mummy'! and with Bryan Toby would do this look where it was like he saying 'yeah took it!' and shrug his shoulders and walk off. On the few times - and it really was just a few times when Toby slipped and needed some help to get-up as he'd panick, bless him. he knew though he could cry for us, we'd be right there and pick Toby-up onto all fours but we had to then just act normal! Toby wouldn't allow pity! a couple of times I wanted to cry but knew Toby had too much pride and myself and Toby would have to act like it never happened! Toby was so loved and I know Toby knew that. Toby touched so many people. I'm pleased knowing that before we got Toby, he was rescued by the RSPCA and knew there was nice Humans and he was safe and loved at Windyway and the same here in his home. He was spoilt but he deserved to be! we wanted Toby to experience as much as he could and he did. It wasn't just with material things or food! but love, time and attention - either Bryan, Myself or Ade would be with the Boys and they'd be left for 1 or 2hrs maximum and that was only a few times a week. Anyway, another of my rambling, there's just so many lovely times and memories of Toby! I've attached some photos of gorgeous Toby, and there's a few more to follow - just recent ones to share with you; Ade bless him, took a photo of Toby on his last day - not knowing at the time that was his last day and you can't see in the photo Toby was sadly going to decline that day. And there's some happy memory photos such as Toby on Xmas day, NY Eve, playing, and out walking etc. Take Care and Thank You. Marie x |
