b'dogs in the city.A Rosie Life.H AVE YOU EVER KNOWN SOMETHING WAS NOT things, like how she would dig at the door to raceQUITE RIGHT , but couldnt quite put your paw on out and herd those twitchy-tailed squirrels back upwhat it was?Well, a few months ago, my little sister, the tree.Or how she would channel Mrs. KravitzRosieRoo,whohistoricallymademealtimea while taking note of every movement or sound sheKibble Throw Down Challenge to see who could could detect from her favorite perch in front of thefinish first, had stopped eating. Mommy and Daddy wide screened smellavision (even though Mommyquicklyscoopedherupandleftina and Daddy insist on calling it a win-hurry.After they all returned, it took dow).And if a stray feline dared toa few days before Roo was back to catwalk across her view, the Roobeing herself again.From then would let out a low warningon,wewereshoweredwith growl in response.treats all day and puppy par- For now, Mommy andties three days a week. Our Daddy seem intent on keep-UncleGregwouldcome ing me distracted so I dontoverwithourfurtastic miss my sister too much.Lastcousins, Tango and Rumba to weekend we went to a poolplay while Mommy and Daddy party where I raced around thewere at work. perimetertryingtogetbraveEvery day, Rosie was the cen- enoughtojumpinwithalltheter of attention, which completely splashing kids until I lost my footingappealed to her inner Diva.She would and fell in. (Note to dogself: never leavetire easily now. When Mommy and Daddy tried to homewithoutyourSuperPuppyPowerCape.)split us so I could go on a longer walk while Theres also the extra cuddles, extended sniffing andDaddy took the Roo back home, we both stood explorationtimeonwalks,roughhousingwithour ground, looking back at each other and bark- Daddy. They even let me bark a little bit more thaning our disapproval.Weve been constant compan- before.To top it off, they bought me a cool remoteions for 10 years; if shes going back home, then so controlled monster truck that I chase, bark and nipam I! at until I have it paralyzed with fear.Then a few weeks ago she stopped being able But the other night, I heard Mommy cryingto eat again and this time when Mommy and and I realized something.They may put on aDaddy shuttled her off, she didnt come back.The brave front for me.But, I must do the same fornext day, I kept looking for her outside and all over them.So, I play along and really do enjoy all thethe house. Then I realized my little sister was really benefits.But, I will pine in my dog heart for mygone. I found myself just staring at her favorite baby sister, Rosie Roo when they arent looking.napping spots, hoping I would see her again. One day I will herd ducks with her again; justI miss everything about hereven the silly not today. U Rosie (aka Tim Tams Black Rose) was diagnosed with cancer in early April of this year (coincidentally also National CancerControl Month). With the help of prednisone, she did bounce back quickly to her old self, but on June 5th, she lost herbattle with cancer.Rosie was 10. She is deeply missed, however we feel extremely blessed to have been given thosetwo extra months (more than a year in dog years) to spoil and love on her and to see her enjoy the best of life before crossing the rainbow bridge. ~ Lon, Leo and Guinness Martin. wLife from a Dogs Perspective is a series written for The New Barker by Guinness the dog(as told to his mom, Lon Martin). Photograph by Lon Martin. w 92 THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com'