Pucky died of heart failure the morning of January, 11 2000 just a month before her 11th birthday (that is 77 dog years). She was a wonderful and amazing creature who brought love and joy into our lives. I created these pages as a tribute to Puck and a reminder of what an amazing companion she was for all these years.

Pucky got her name from a family friend who went to the Kennel on Staten Island to pick our dog. It wasn't hard to figure out which dog we wanted. Pucky ran into the room and peed on the we-we pad. She was hyper, fun and energetic. We took her home that night against the will of my mother who wanted nothing to do with a dog. Little did she know that they would soon become best friends!

I was in 6th grade (about 12) when we got Pucky. I was so excited for I always wanted a dog. Pucky was so energetic, she ate the walls in our apartment, ate the gravel in the driveway of our home, bit Nevine's feet and pissed everywhere but the we-we pad. Boy was she a bundle of energy.

We soon learned that she had an amazing personality. She knew how to get what she wanted and at precisely 4:30 every day knew dinner time was approaching. She managed to have a wonderfull rapport with both my mother and father for whom Pucky quickly became and important and critical part of our family. We laughed, joked, and played a great deal together. To an outsider, it almost appeared bizarre as Pucky was frequently the main topic of conversation.

Pucky made many friends over the years. She had people friends, like my cousin Fatma whom frequently cared and walked Pucky when she visited, and there were her doggy friends, Max and Yubi, whom she visited when we were in the country.

Pucky also got to travel quite a bit. She took frequent trips to visit me and my sister in Newport, RI during our high school years. She loved staying in the hotel, where the concept of Room Service, was a dream come true. She went to visit me in College, and she frequently went to Pennsylvania where she stayed when we were all out of the country.

Pucky started to get very sick the last few months. Her vet, Doctor Kross, whom Puck loved dearly, determined that she had an enlarged heart. While he knew that Pucky only had a few months to live, he didn't tell my parents, and I am glad he didn't. Pucky enjoyed her last few months. I almost feel that she kept herself going because she knew that she would only see us all together one last time. My Sister was spending the semester in Europe this last fall and my patents were frequently traveling. For the Christmas holidays, we all gathered in our apartment in New York and had a great time. Pucky was her normal happy self.

I left to return to California on Jan 2. I had a feeling I wouldn't see Pucky again so I told her goodbye. She looked at me like she knew, and gave me a kiss.

Pucky died the day before my parents were leaving for Egypt and Nevine off to school for the semester. I am glad she died before they left, and I am happy I spent some quality time with her. She was my best friend, spending more time watching me grow than any non-family member that I know.

I will love and miss Puck, and I only hope that she is in Doggy heaven right now, running in endless fields, and sleeping for hours a day.

If there is every such a thing as unconditional love, then I believe that is how Puck felt for us. Each and every day she gazed up at us with her loving eyes, only looking for companionship and attention. She surely made the last 11 years of my life unforgettable.

Below is a series of pictures taken in our country house in October 1999. I hope you enjoy them.

Omar Shahine
Tue, Jan 11, 2000