This little bundle of joy came into mom’s life in April, 2008. A tiny Yorkshire Terrier that was all fluff and loved to lick.
At different times Mom had two small female Yorkies weighing about 8lbs each, Lady Tia and Rosie. There were also two spaniels somewhere along the way, Daniel (we still laugh at that- Daniel the spaniel) and Andrew.
When Rosie died mom said no more dogs, she was heartbroken each time time one passed. However, being who she was it wasn’t too long before Mom wanted another Yorkie. A female wasn’t to be found so she said a male would have to do.
Mom brought him home and named him after her favourite tennis player, Rafa. Well-loved and looked after Rafa grew and grew and grew. He was not at all what was expected and blossomed into an 18 lb black, tan and silver beauty with a huge personality. He was playful, curious and energetic.
This little bundle of joy came into mom’s life in April, 2008. A tiny Yorkshire Terrier that was all fluff and loved to lick.
At different times Mom had two small female Yorkies weighing about 8lbs each, Lady Tia and Rosie. There were also two spaniels somewhere along the way, Daniel (we still laugh at that- Daniel the spaniel) and Andrew.
When Rosie died mom said no more dogs, she was heartbroken each time. However, being who she was it wasn’t too long before Mom wanted another Yorkie. A female wasn’t to be found so she said a male would have to do.
Mom brought him home and named him after her favourite tennis player, Rafa. Well-loved and looked after Rafa grew and grew and grew. He was not at all what was expected and blossomed into an 18 lb black, tan and silver beauty with a huge personality. He was playful, curious and energetic.
Rafa learned to eat toast and tea from a very young age. At breakfast mom would dip a small piece of toast into tea and give it to him. She made sure that his kibble was a healthy one, sometimes supplemented with a few leftovers from supper. 3pm was teatime for mom and dad, always a hot cuppa and a cookie or two. For Rafa this meant a dog biscuit and usually being treated with a piece of a digestive cookie. Mom’s big weakness was potato chips and it became apparent that if mom ate it, Rafa would at least be trying it. Yup, together they were a winner. Plain only- low salt please.
Rafa loved to play and mom always had a new toy for him. It didn’t take him long to tear one apart by tossing it into the air and shaking it to pieces. Yorkies were originally trained to face down rats and shake them and it was apparent Rafa still had that gene.
When I went to visit Rafa would come over with one of his toys wanting to play. Down I got on my hands and knees ready to grab the toy, when Rafa would hastily run in and take it out of my reach, move a little way away, then stand looking and I’m sure laughing at me. A tug of war ensued back and forth with growls and laughter.
and mom walked the neighbourhood every day. The local kids loved him and he would stay while they patted his silky fur and chase after them when mom let him off the leash. He was like a rocket over the grass and around the trees, back and forth between one child and another.
Rafa could be found tucked in beside mom in her rocker or napping in his bed in the kitchen. Often, he jumped up with Dad and lay there with his head on the arm of the big chair.
Saturday night was hockey night and mom and dad cheered for rival teams. Yells, fist pumps and often jumping out of chairs was the norm as one team or another scored a goal. Rafa would leap down from his place, barking in the excitement of it all. Mom and dad would laugh, each one saying Rafa was for their team. His antics brought lots of joy into their lives.
Mom and Dad have passed but Rafa is still here, living with my sister and her husband. Along with tug of war my brother-in-law has taught him to play hide and seek and games of chase around the kitchen island.
Rafa turned 13 on February 19, 2021 and has slowed down a bit but is still playful and energetic. This delightful pet, Rafa, gets lots of love and can be seen prancing (yes that’s how everyone describes his walk) around the streets of Halifax. For how long now one never knows.
While I still see him off and on I do miss the times that he and I both shared at and with my Mom and Dad.
