I remember the day you chose us and why we named you CoCo Bear.. a precious sweet soul as cuddly as a teddy bear... a little brown spot on your butt looked like you sat in cocoa. Little did we know how you would change everyone's life who met you. We have hundreds of pictures celebrating your life! You even loved Mew-Mew the cat and Peaches the Cockatoo. Always eager to please us and be a part of our lives.. you unconditionally loved us and gladly traveled our many destinations as we moved from Illinois to Florida and back to Illinois. You had a few harrowing moments CoCo, remember the sticker-burrs in the field on the way to Florida, and your brief escape when we were moving once again in Chicago?... you came flying back to our arms amidst the commotion of the movers. I know you always yearned for motherhood - you licked little Angel, Lynn's daschund, protecting her from harm - what a sweet little girl you were. When Bailey, another Shih Tzu came into our lives, you graciously accepted him and cared for him as your own. Somehow over the years you eased our trials and tribulations and knew our every thought. You never had a cross word for us - just some of the big doggies in the park.. What a spunky little girl you were. I wish we had known your symptoms much sooner - we can't help wondering if you would still be with us. You and we did put up a galient fight, didn't we, CoCo Bear? You still ran up and down the many stairs, and grunted to be picked up to be put on your little pillow and fleece blanket. God was watching over you, and played Amazing Grace on the television on Palm Sunday as we knew it your time to leave us behind and enter Raindows Bridge. It's been almost 3 months since you left us, and just recently you came to me in a dream, but it was so real.... You came back to visit, your beautiful coat restored to its full glory, your skin free of all the ravages of liver disease and your muscles now strong. I can still feel my hand gently petting your sweet body and you licking my face with your "CoCo kisses" - ones you even gave out freely to the doctors who were treating you in your last months. You played with us for a while, and told us not to cry, that you were happy at Rainbows Bridge. You remembered Bailey and Cody ( our Llasa Apso), Mew-Mew the cat (Peaches, the Cockatoo now has a new home), and we have now been found by another little Shih Tzu named Max. I know you would love him, too! But, always remember you will always be our very special little "spicy girl" and forever in our hearts. People without animals to love have missed a big part of life, but only until they have lost their friends will they experience the true meaning of unconditional love... We should all be so fortunate... CoCo Bear.. forever in our hearts... forever loved by all.