That night, November 24, 2007, was a sad day for us. I didn't want to think about replacing Rocky. He couldn't be replaced! He was Hart's constant companion, sleeping on his bed at home and at the hospital, beside him in the wheelchair, at his desk, on his lap in the car. He couldn't be replaced!. How we missed him! ... So, even knowing in our hearts that he couldn't be replaced a search for a new dog began. After searching newspapers and bulletins in pet stores and at the vet's, we had nearly given up. But then I thought of phoning a friend who once rescued dogs. She put me on to an animal rescue place in the vacinity. We phoned. They had only ONE smaller dog. But they weren't sure if he would be the right dog for us. .... How wrong they were! On a snowy December ('07) day, Hart, my sister and I headed off to the animal rescue to take a look. Hart stayed in the van, as it was too snowy a day for him to get out of the van and into his wheelchair. Evelyn and I went up to the door and the attendent said, "Wait here. I'll go bring the dog out." .... One look at his face and Evelyn and I said -- in unison -- "That's our dog!" He stepped right into Rocky's place in our hearts--but of course, Rocky is still there, too.... We agreed on a name for him almost at once: "Corky." (He is a cross between a corgi and a terrier). It didn't occur to me at the time that the word "Corky" is "Rocky" with the letters reversed. How perfect!
Corky lives here, he’s here to stay.
If you don’t like him, be on your way.
He shares our home, our food, our space.
This is HIS home; this is HIS place.
You’ll find his toys strewn on the floor.
He will alert us when you’re at the door.
Of course he’ll want a little pat.
You must comply, so that is that!
Please never let me hear you say,
”How ever can you live this way?
Dogs smell, they shed, they're in the way.”
Well, who asked you, anyway?
We picked Corky up from a rescue place.
We fell in love with his endearing face.
His past history, we’ll never know.
Despite his faults, we love him so.
He merely has to hear us say,
”C'mon , Corky, lets go and play.”
His tail he wags; you can see him grin.
He bounces and hops and make a din.
He never says “I’ve no time for you,”
He’s always there, to GO and DO.
If we should cry, get mad, or sigh,
He understands--no questions, WHY?
His job is to guide and to watch the whole house.
No intruders are welcome! Not even a mouse.
He'll not let the wheelchair out of his sight.
He waits 'til it's empty, and sleeps in it at night.
Corky lives here. He’s here to stay.
If you don't like it, be on your way.
He shares our home, our food, our space.
This is HIS home. This is HIS place..
The Dowds
P.S. The minute we brought enthusiastic Corky into the house there was an explosion. Fur flew. Claws bared. Five cats flew into position for a fight. Corky was ready. What a pandemonium. For a couple of days the cats each found the highest positions they could, in the house, and Corky kept a close eye on each of them. Soon, though, peace rained. In fact, Sparky, our youngest, and exactly the same age as Corky--two-and-half--are the greatest of pals...Helen