Rocky Balboa Brown

Rocky Balboa Brown, 10 years young, crossed over the rainbow bridge at her home on August 27, 2024 from a brain tumor. 

Rocky joined our family, shortly after we had our youngest daughter Makaylah, who was only weeks old. She was a purebred “Safeway Select”, as she came straight from a box in front of Safeway. I had sent my husband Sam to the store for diapers, and he came back with a little multicolored puppy who had black fur around one eye. This is how she became known as Rocky after Rocky Balboa the boxer.  In the fall with her hair grown out she looked like a Border Collie and in the spring after her haircut she looked like a Dalmatian covered in black spots. She was a fashionesta with all her nails white, except for 1 black nail on her front paw.

Rocky could not hide her feelings. She could be in full wag mode where her entire body wagged in unison with her tail; vibrate mode where she was so excited that she quite literally fully vibrated, or shame mode when she acted guilty, but none of us knew for what. She adored all things bacon, especially if it came from her Grandma or if another dog wanted it.

Rocky loved to go for walks and chase rabbits at Virtue Flats. Many times all you would see is her leaping and bounding over the sage brush, a rabbit running to the right, and Rocky running to left.  It was hilarious and hard not to imagine her with a cape as she flew over the sagebrush. Rocky especially loved to see her grandma and have sleepovers at the ranch in Halfway. She would take her sweet time and peruse suspicious areas making sure everyone was safe from wild squirrels or lone range deer. 

Rocky was really proud of her teeth, and would often show her cousins Diesel, Axel and Pepper how tough she was. She was the referee that made sure everyone played fair and if not she would jump in.

Rocky never learned how to play to catch the right way, she would rather you try and take the ball out of her mouth once she brought it back. She could not resist chasing a stick into the water, but she had to hide it once she got it out.

It seemed Rocky’s mission in life was to protect us from rogue squirrels, wicked deer, vicious rabbits,  and various cows that for some reason set her off. Most of all, she had A LOT to bark at whenever she saw that OX on top of Yorks. Let’s just say she did not approve.

Rocky was not a fan of getting her hair cut or going to see the vet. Last week at this time we had no idea that these days would be our final ones.  This past week, her seizures continued despite giving her medication.  I asked Rocky to please help me know if we were making the right decision by helping her cross her over, her appointment with the vet was at 4pm. At 3pm Rocky went into the back yard beside the treehouse and laid down in the grass. With her family at her side loving on her, the wind came up and she deeply breathed 3 breaths. Rocky slipped away as we cried and soothed her.  It was 3:45pm, we never did have to take her to the vet, Rocky ventured off over the rainbow bridge on her own where she joined our beloved Pallee.  

Rocky, our hearts are so heavy and we miss you terribly. I don’t know if I will ever be able to wash your kisses off my windows or take your leash off the wall. I am so glad you came into our lives, you have blessed us beyond measure. We will see you again someday,

Love you Rock