When I adopted him at the shelter, he had been found after a car accident and he only had one eye as the other had to be removed. He since lost the eyesight almost completely in his remaining eye due to a cataract. The shelter asked me if I would consider adopting a dog with just one, at that time, good eye. I picked him up and when he crossed his paws around my arm I was hooked. I said yes ... and we have been together since then. We have been through a lot and have seen two other little buddies pass on; but through it all, he has still been my baby. We have moved and we have traveled. We have watched grandchildren grow up all around him. They have pulled him and hugged him and taken him for walks and he has seemed to love it all. I even had Tinker blog on this site about all pets, but particularly dogs, and the importance of taking care of them.
What do I say about Tinker? He was a goofy little dog who made me laugh, sitting in my flower pots and climbing on his doghouse. He was far from perfect but he was sweet, totally non-agressive and very playful (particularly when he was younger). And he was devoted. He was just happy to be included.
In my children's book My New Puppy there is a section about our bond with pets. It is incredibly strong. An animal's devotion and companionship is good for your emotional and physical health and there is documented proof that a pet's love can relieve stress, lower blood pressure and help the body heal. We, in turn; owe them the best to take care of them and give them our love in return.
Tinker leaves behind a companion named Nunzi and, although he will never replace Tinker, he is wonderful too. I will consciously try to spend more time with him now. He knows that Tinker is gone (he is a little quiet and subdued and he doesn't want to go to places where he and Tinker used to stay), even though he doesn't know what happened to his buddy.
There are several prose works about The Rainbow Bridge, where our pets wait for us after death. We will meet at the Rainbow Bridge to pass over into Paradise. As my daughter said when I told her that I was sad about Tinker's passing "He's a happy, young dog again and is your Guardian Angel Dog now." I will keep that thought in mind and love his memory and enjoy the remaining little man that I still have.
Below: Tinker at home, Tinker hiking in Sedona, AZ; Tinker climbing in the flower pot; Tinker walking with my granddaughter