A Hole in Our Hearts

We lost our beloved Buster early last Monday morning. He was only 9, but those years were so full of fun and love. I have never met a dog quite like Buster. Boxers are notorious for thinking they are human and they are certainly the most humorous dog breed I've ever come across as well.

Buster had a host of health issues in his short life. His spine was fusing together so he got to where he couldn't run and play like he use to. He was on steroids for a couple of years to help him with the pain and in the meantime contracted a bone infection that went on and on. He was on an antibiotic for over a year as well. Every time the antibiotic would run out, he would get sick.

Recently, though, we had renewed hope for Buster. We took him off the steroid because he had gained a lot of weight and was constantly hungry...plus, we knew his body needed a break from the drug. Since he was off the steroid, the antibiotic worked and the bone infection disappeared! He was in good health and he didn't seem to be in pain so we left him off the steroid.

A few months of being drug-free, he had a seizure. It was a short one, but scary nonetheless.  However, last Sunday night, he had a seizure that he never came out of. It was the scariest thing I have ever witnessed and the feeling of helplessness was overwhelming. It was midnight Sunday night and we struggled to find a vet at that late hour. Without going into details, it was all Buster could take and he had to leave us.

Many of you have pets that you love like children and you can relate to my pain while others may think I'm being ridiculous, but either way, I want to share some "Buster moments" with you....partly as a healing process for me but also to share with you the wonderful life Buster gave to his family.

• When Buster was just a puppy, he was standing on the porch at my studio and a leaf fell from the tree and landed in front of him. He quickly backed up and started lunging at it barking as if it was something dangerous.
• He would chase and jump at the red dot from the laser light...cutest thing ever ;)
• When Daisy would bark at someone going down the road, Buster would push her out of the way and bark at her as if to say, "back up, I got this"
• When the car alarm or smoke detector would go off, Buster would howl like a wolf.
• Buster use to attack the vacuum.
• Buster would unwrap his own Christmas presents.
• He snored like an adult man!
• Buster always had to have a paw on you while you were petting him.
• He would jump like a bunny when he barked.
• When I would get up in the morning, he would pace the floor behind me while I made coffee because he couldn't wait to be fed.......and if I sleep a little too late, he would paw at our bedroom door.
• In the morning while I would get ready for the day, Buster would follow me from room to room waiting for me so he could "go to work" with me.
• He knew when it was 5pm......his tummy would tell him so and he would start pestering me to go up to the house to be fed.
• He had a pink pig squeaker and we would say "I'm goona get that squeaker" and he would whine and howl.....it never got old.....one of the most fun things we did with him.
• He loved to snuggle.
• My friend, Renee, was dog-setting Buster and Daisy at her house a few years back in the wintertime. In the morning, she got up to let her dog and ours outside. Sebastian and Daisy took off outside and Buster stopped and looked at her as if to say "really? but it's so cold outside" so she closed the door and he jumped on her bed so they could snuggle. (this story always cracks me up because we never let our dogs on the furniture, so he just loved his Renee)

The stories could go on and on......I may add more as I remember them just so we will never forget. I didn't realize at the time how much his presence at work meant to me. I am often by myself at the studio but Buster's breathing (and snoring) kept me company. 

I take comfort in the fact that we will see Buster again some day....along with our other faithful companions. Even though it's very sad when they are gone, I always say, "I'd rather have loved and lost than to never have loved at all."

Enjoy every moment with your furry friends and more importantly, your family and friends. You never know when the good Lord will call them home.

My Uncle JR and Buster. This was November 2004 when we were in Missouri for Thanksgiving. My cousin Shelly and her husband, Harold, bred boxers. Buster was a pup in the last litter before Harold passed away.

Told you he was a snuggler ;)

I am adding a video below to show you how he would play with his squeaker. It's kind of loud so turn down the volume.