Tyson
A donation was made in memory of Tyson on Sep 16, 2009.
Tyson (aka Mr. “T”)
05/25/04 – 08/27/09
Tyson became part of our family in early August 2004. We wanted to expand our family so his sister Penny would have a playmate while his Mom and Dad were off to work. Dad had made up his mind that he wanted a Rottie, once his mind it made up it is difficult to change. He started out a small 26 lbs boy, but grew to a monstrous size in a short period of time, at his largest around 145 lbs. We can barely remember him when he was so small. As a puppy, he loved lying on the air conditioning vents or on the cool linoleum floors. Penny quickly accepted Tyson hours after we brought him home, dragging him around the living room floor with one of Dad’s old socks.
He always thought with his stomach, he loved his dog biscuits, which we called “cookies”, and he would do anything for one. He had even trained his Dad to get him one whenever he was craving one by nibbling on his legs. He learned to be gentle taking treats or playing with Mom. He loved walks with Mom at the middle school track even when Mom walked a little too far for him. He loved eating and playing in the snow, but despised the rain. Our “little” boy was made out of sugar; he hated getting wet, but let Mom bathe him whenever he needed it.
When Tyson was about three, he started getting white spots all over his coat. After doing some research, we figured it was probably vitiligo, blood tests had confirmed it was not a thyroid problem. It made him unique, and we loved him even more.
He was a big cuddly teddy bear and loved everyone he got to know. He loved sleeping on the big bed with Mom, Dad and Penny, he loved cuddling with Dad all night once he was neutered and his hormones quit raging. He was very protective of his family, and his loud, deep bark got everyone’s attention. He loved going to his training classes and loved practicing what he learned. He was taught to run into the bedroom when unannounced visitors arrived at the front door, he didn’t even need a command before going. He would get into his wire crate every morning without giving Mom a hard time, sometimes without even being told.
He always met Mom at the door when she arrived home from work waiting for his hug from her. He loved “going bye bye” with Mom and Dad, even if it was just to the corner store. He traveled everywhere with his Mom, Dad and Penny, only being left at home once with Grandma while Mom and Dad went to Seattle, that was the last time they were ever left home. He loved traveling to Utah to visit his other grandparents, and being around kids, although they were a little frightening to him.
His last trip was to Newport, Oregon in May 2009, he loved the ocean. He was intrigued by the waves and loved attacking them as they rolled onto the beach. He even waded into the ocean to check out the seaweed. Mom wore both him and Penny out walking up and down the beach exploring. Shortly before passing, Tyson learned how to dance. His Mom taught him and his Dad was a little reluctant to believe that he would learn to do it on his own. After a few weeks of Mom helping Tyson, he danced by himself! After that, he wouldn’t eat his breakfast or dinner without dancing first. He would twirl in circles as many times as Mom and Dad wanted him to.
On July 5, 2009, Tyson started showing signs of his disease. The vet diagnosed him with thrombocytopenia and we discussed possible causes. One was immune-mediated and another, a tick borne disease, ehrlichiosis. We tested him for the tick disease and started him immediately on medication to get his platelet levels back up to normal. He was never quite the same after that, although came close once the meds began kicking in. We later determined he did have ehrlichiosis and began treatment for that. He slowly continued deteriorating, muscle and joints wasting away making it difficult to walk, although his mind and personality was still his youthful normal self. He was always happy, his tail wagging a million miles a minute, even near the end.
Early in the morning on August 27, 2009, Tyson lost his battle with his health issues. It was completely unexpected, we just thought it was going to be another rough patch before getting him back to his healthy puppy self since the vet had armed us with a strong antibiotic and pain medication. Tyson was always so determined and headstrong. He passed at home with his Mom, Dad and Penny close by.
It was so difficult for those of us that he left behind, waiting to see him trot around the corner for his hug and cookie. It is getting a little more bearable every day that passes, although our lives will never be the same without our precious little boy. He made our lives more complete and we would have never been the same without his happy grin and unconditional love. We now know that the Lord needed him on the other side more than we did. We miss Tyson more than anything in this world and can’t wait to see our boy again.
Derek & Stephanie F.
05/25/04 – 08/27/09
Tyson became part of our family in early August 2004. We wanted to expand our family so his sister Penny would have a playmate while his Mom and Dad were off to work. Dad had made up his mind that he wanted a Rottie, once his mind it made up it is difficult to change. He started out a small 26 lbs boy, but grew to a monstrous size in a short period of time, at his largest around 145 lbs. We can barely remember him when he was so small. As a puppy, he loved lying on the air conditioning vents or on the cool linoleum floors. Penny quickly accepted Tyson hours after we brought him home, dragging him around the living room floor with one of Dad’s old socks.
He always thought with his stomach, he loved his dog biscuits, which we called “cookies”, and he would do anything for one. He had even trained his Dad to get him one whenever he was craving one by nibbling on his legs. He learned to be gentle taking treats or playing with Mom. He loved walks with Mom at the middle school track even when Mom walked a little too far for him. He loved eating and playing in the snow, but despised the rain. Our “little” boy was made out of sugar; he hated getting wet, but let Mom bathe him whenever he needed it.
When Tyson was about three, he started getting white spots all over his coat. After doing some research, we figured it was probably vitiligo, blood tests had confirmed it was not a thyroid problem. It made him unique, and we loved him even more.
He was a big cuddly teddy bear and loved everyone he got to know. He loved sleeping on the big bed with Mom, Dad and Penny, he loved cuddling with Dad all night once he was neutered and his hormones quit raging. He was very protective of his family, and his loud, deep bark got everyone’s attention. He loved going to his training classes and loved practicing what he learned. He was taught to run into the bedroom when unannounced visitors arrived at the front door, he didn’t even need a command before going. He would get into his wire crate every morning without giving Mom a hard time, sometimes without even being told.
He always met Mom at the door when she arrived home from work waiting for his hug from her. He loved “going bye bye” with Mom and Dad, even if it was just to the corner store. He traveled everywhere with his Mom, Dad and Penny, only being left at home once with Grandma while Mom and Dad went to Seattle, that was the last time they were ever left home. He loved traveling to Utah to visit his other grandparents, and being around kids, although they were a little frightening to him.
His last trip was to Newport, Oregon in May 2009, he loved the ocean. He was intrigued by the waves and loved attacking them as they rolled onto the beach. He even waded into the ocean to check out the seaweed. Mom wore both him and Penny out walking up and down the beach exploring. Shortly before passing, Tyson learned how to dance. His Mom taught him and his Dad was a little reluctant to believe that he would learn to do it on his own. After a few weeks of Mom helping Tyson, he danced by himself! After that, he wouldn’t eat his breakfast or dinner without dancing first. He would twirl in circles as many times as Mom and Dad wanted him to.
On July 5, 2009, Tyson started showing signs of his disease. The vet diagnosed him with thrombocytopenia and we discussed possible causes. One was immune-mediated and another, a tick borne disease, ehrlichiosis. We tested him for the tick disease and started him immediately on medication to get his platelet levels back up to normal. He was never quite the same after that, although came close once the meds began kicking in. We later determined he did have ehrlichiosis and began treatment for that. He slowly continued deteriorating, muscle and joints wasting away making it difficult to walk, although his mind and personality was still his youthful normal self. He was always happy, his tail wagging a million miles a minute, even near the end.
Early in the morning on August 27, 2009, Tyson lost his battle with his health issues. It was completely unexpected, we just thought it was going to be another rough patch before getting him back to his healthy puppy self since the vet had armed us with a strong antibiotic and pain medication. Tyson was always so determined and headstrong. He passed at home with his Mom, Dad and Penny close by.
It was so difficult for those of us that he left behind, waiting to see him trot around the corner for his hug and cookie. It is getting a little more bearable every day that passes, although our lives will never be the same without our precious little boy. He made our lives more complete and we would have never been the same without his happy grin and unconditional love. We now know that the Lord needed him on the other side more than we did. We miss Tyson more than anything in this world and can’t wait to see our boy again.
Derek & Stephanie F.
