My Buster, a little mixed breed boy, left us to go over the bridge Tuesday (9/17/13, at more than 16 years old. I have been lucky to have had many animals over my lifetime and have loved every one of them, but the connection I had with Buster was unique and wonderful.
Two of our friends let us know all those years ago, that they were planning to adopt 2 mutt puppies from a neighbor's litter. The parents were 2 little dogs that the husband had rescued from a roadside stand in Korea, that was selling them for food. He was in the Air Force at the time, and brought them back to the USA with him.
My partner and I decided we would adopt the one and only female in the litter, our beautiful little Murphy who lived with us for 14 years. When they were 8 wks old, we went to pick up Murphy. Just before we left, the woman of the house said "Here's the only one that's unspoken for now..he's going to be a handsome fellow"...I looked over to where she was holding him. He was light brown, with a black mask and eyebrows that suggested Groucho Marx. And most striking, he had the the most beautiful and gentle brown eyes I had ever seen. He was looking right at me, in the eyes, and then lifted his left paw as if to say "Howdy! Aren't you forgetting something? Me!!".
Needless to say, he came home with us too, and was the best dog this world had ever been fortunate enough to have walk here. He was my "sugar pup" who slept by my side right up to the day I had to let him go. Through the day, his eyes never left me as I walked from room to room, and before he got crippled with arthritis as an old man, followed me all over. My poor baby had to be carried up the stairs to bed at the end, and out to the backyard to do his business. It was obvious he was unhappy and his quality of life gone when I made the horrible, heartbreaking decision to send him over the bridge two days ago. He went peacefully, in my arms, while I stroked his eyes and face. It was by far the hardest thing I have ever had to do, bar none.
Rest in peace my little boy in a dog's suit...we went through a lot together, didn't we? You comforted me when my best friend Sam got sick and passed away, when I lost both my parents, and through every trial of my life within those 16+ years.
I love you so much and miss you dreadfully. You will be coming home in a week or two, in a little cedar box, to sit next to your sister Murphy, near your side of the bed, for the rest of your mama's life.
I like to think of you running around as a puppy again, with your bossy sister beside you, without a care in the world.
I will see you again someday...please be at the foot of the bridge waiting, my best boy.