My Beloved Cocoa

This post isn't about the spice, it's about my beloved black lab Cocoa. She passed away today a few months shy of her 14th birthday. She was the first pet my husband and I got together and I'll never forget the day we got her. It was June 1998 not long after I graduated from high school. We went out and took a look at her and just had to have her.

She was playful and funny to watch. We never intended her to be an inside pet so she lived, rather comfortably, outside. One of the first things I taught her was for her to give me her paw. Until she passed, every time she sat in front of me, she would give me her paw.

She had a few quirks about her, but doesn't every pet? She would howl when any sirens would pass because the noise bothered her. Our neighbors didn't care too much for her when she was younger because she would get out of the kennel and attack their chickens. It wasn't until she was spayed, and a little older, that she stopped chasing chickens. 

Chickens weren't her only targets. She's a black lab, which are bred for hunting, so it's not entirely her fault. She would chase birds, rabbits, cats, even snakes! If we saw a snake in the yard, all we had to do was turn her loose and she'd take care of it.

We're really going to miss her. She wasn't just a dog, she was a member of our family. She will always be a member of our family. She created so many good memories that we'll never forget. RIP my sweet Cocoa. Watch over Brutus and Bear Bear and always remember that we love you!