Hershey Dominic Diaz

Hershey Dominic Diaz passed, alongside his family of nearly 18 1/2 years on Monday, September 9, 2019, under the care of Dr. Washington of East Columbus Veterinary Hospital after a brief illness.

 Hershey was brought home on June 20, 2001 after his mom, Lori, discovered him while at work. She was on home visit off Joyce Avenue and after the conclusion of the visit, she was asked if she wanted a puppy as a few houses over had recently had puppies. Lori called Michael (dad) at work and asked, “do you want a dog?” The family had been asking for a dog, but Lori was resistant as she fears dogs. Michael thought she was bluffing so he said, “sure bring him up here!” Hershey was put in a box and driven to his job where he came out and saw him in the front seat of the car. From that moment grew a very loving and deeply bonded relationship among Michael and his “Dude” Hershey. Michael was responsible for the well-mannered dog Hershey became.

Hershey was brought home and introduced to his sisters, Mikayla who was 4 ½ and Kyah, 1 ½. He was an obedient, loyal and loving companion to the girls. Hershey was there for all of their milestones; Kindergarten graduation, The Jabberwock Coutillion, and The Starlite Coutillion, Mikayla’s Worthington Christian High School graduation, her year and half at Columbus State Community College and Mikayla's independence to her first apartment. He was also there for Kyah’s Kindergarten graduation, 8th grade "From Girls to Pearls", Eastmoor Academy High School graduation, Kyah’s Associate degree from DeVry University and her two years at University of Akron. Hershey was also excited for Mikayla’s recent departure to Flight Attendant School and her receiving her In flight Wings. He was hoping to take a plane ride on Frontier since they always have an animal on the tail. (smile). He was there for all of Mikayla’s random shenanigans of picking through his fur and all the cuddling and chasing that happened when she was younger. He forgave Kyah for the emergency vet visit for when she put a small black rubber band on his paw that started cutting off circulation and caused him to whine and limp. He was so happy when both Mikayla and Kyah moved back home so that we could once again be all under one roof. Although the girls had grown up to be adult women, he remained the puppy of their childhood and captured their heart.

As a youngster Hershey quickly began building loving relationships with all those who met him, whether it be a social event at his home, a visit to Cleveland or to the Wimberly’s house in Genoa. Hershey was fearless, and that was discovered on several of his uninvited romps through the neighborhood. All 3 of the times that he was “missing” he was discovered safely exploring the neighborhood. One expedition took him across a very busy James Road. His family was so scared when they found him. He would give that genuine “Did I do that?” look. As usual, when he returned home, he would just run into his spot next to Michael’s side of the bed. He knew his parents were not happy, but were so glad he was safe.

Hershey was a lover of the family couch. It was his most convenient way he could look out the window when one of the family members left. He would often be spotted as they backed out of the driveway and after you could see his nose prints all over the window. As he got older, he could no longer jump up on the couch but would instead greet them happily by the kitchen door. In the later years, Hershey became blind and deaf, but he still managed to maneuver through the house and find ways to let his family know that he still loved them. He was such a trooper and undoubtedly wanted to stay around for as long as he could. He took being a companion serious! Even in the end, when Lori would come home late in the evening, he would still wake up to greet her. Its almost as if he would coordinate his late-night "security" roam through the house to occur when she would come in.

Hershey loved chicken. Although he was not supposed to, on occasion when he could not resist the urge, he would knock over the kitchen trash so that he could tear it up to get his beloved forbidden human food. Afterwards, he would lick his lips for what seemed like hours. For him it was well worth the “trouble” he would get into. He went to sleep happy after one of those encounters. His family was never happy to clean up the throw up that he would produce shortly after.

Hershey had many hobbies. Some of Hershey’s favorite activities included howling at fire trucks in the neighborhood, cuddling alongside you, sleeping on his parent’s King size bed, running up stairs to scratch on the girls doors to wake them up, licking his butt, acting like a spazz when it was time to recieve a beloved treat, and trying to figure out who exactly was "good boy." In his spare time, Hershey dreamt violently (they would have to wake him up sometimes from whimpering), presumably he was chasing dastardly felines or squirrels in our back yard who dared enter his dreams. The quickest way to Hershey’s heart was with a quality scratch of his rear, a loving rub on the top of head and a rub of his belly. Oh, that leg would get to shaking uncontrollably when it felt really good to him.

Hershey will be greatly be missed by many, but none more so than his family. Through thick and thin, they loved him with all their heart, and though the pain they feel without him is great, it in no way would compare to having never had him in their life. To have lived 18 ½ years makes Hershey a “lucky dog” but to his family it made them privileged to have shared such unconditional love. They were truly the lucky ones. Hershey quickly became a dog that legends are made of and will never ever be forgotten.

Hershey leaves behind to cherish his memory, his loving parents, Michael and Lori Diaz; his beloved sisters, Mikayla and Kyah Diaz; vacation caretakers, Darlene Bell and Andrew Jennings; grandmothers, Betty and Doris; aunts, Sandi, Darlene and Stacy (Lester), Monica; Uncles, Dewain, Curtis, John; special twin cousins, Sidni and Lorin; and many amazing friends (Tibytha Thompson, The Wimberlys, The Makapelas, The Robinsons, The Hawthornes, The McIntoshes) throughout the years.

At the wishes of Hershey's family, give your dog an extra hug, belly rub, and treat in memory of the best dog our family could have ever asked for. They are forever grateful for how Hershey grew along with them and showed them how to love him and to ultimately love each other. Thank you Hershey,…run to the bridge. See you later.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Hershey Dominic Diaz, please visit our floral store.