Come walk with me on a journey in time, when your world was just new & you were first mine.

Big brown eyes so trusting & true & a coat with gorgeous ebony hue. A gentle heart & unconditional love, & a gift of trust I grew to love.

The miles we walked just me & you over fields & streams & beaches too, neath hawthorn trees just we two.

Then Zeus came along & 2 became 3, you took him as your own & taught him well, when he did wrong you were quick to tell.

An inseparable pair you soon became little & large close companions you were, partners in crime my god what a pair.

Then as years passed by & illness took its toll our wonderful Zeus had meekly to go, his eyes closed tight his breathing stilled our beautiful boy we wish was with us still.

Time passed by & age crept in a fireside companion on dark winter nights you've been.

For 16 years you've been by my side, through babies & toddlers & teenagers too, always watching over gentle & true.

Old eyes growing dim, old bones ache & groan, I nursed you a while & hoped you'd pull round, my faithful old friend who's always around.

But this time it was not to be, I now knew I had to set you free. You showed me that it was your time to go deep down a feeling I'd already known.

With aching heart & tear filled eyes we took one last journey side by side, my good friend Rio so faithful & true, there'll never be another dog like you.

Wrapped in my arms looking into my eyes, you went to sleep with me just one last time.

With breaking heart I gave to you, my one last gift a love so true, I set you free from all your pain & watched you leave this earthly plane.

With Zeus in another place you now dwell partners in crime companions again, in memories you will never leave till we meet again neath the hawthorn trees.

Come walk with me on a journey in time to a place where you will ALWAYS BE MINE. . . . .

Rio 1991 -- 2007 R.I.P