Cody’s Corner: The love and loss of a dog: everlasting

BY Sarah smithssmith@parkrapidsenterprise.com The “Story of Booh” comes to us from Julie Marzinske of Eden Prairie.  We adopted you Aug. 6, 2003 at the Headwaters Human Society as a gift to me after losing my best furry pal Nakita to cancer. We named you Booh, but you had been named Star and Kelly. We bought you a red collar and purple leash They told us your story: you were their first resident and you had been there since April. You were very shy and you had not been treated well by your previous owner so you had many fears, but you were gentle and loving to those you trusted. The trip home was stressful on you so when we opened the hatch you took off, dragging poor little Addie with you. We spent many hours that day and night looking for you and enlisted the help of many friends and neighbors, but we had no luck that day or the days and months that followed. As the weather got colder we worried more, so with the permission of our neighbor we set-up a live trap in their back yard and checked it a couple of times a day. 93 nights after you ran, at 2 a.m. Nov. 11, 2003 the neighbor called and said “we got her.” Dad and I both were down there in less than five minutes. To not traumatize you with a car ride, dad walked you home. It was quite the picture, you pulling the leash as taut as possible so you are not next to “the man” dragging what was left of the purple leash. While you were away, we got a puppy, Babe. We hoped that by having a second dog you would understand we were good people and would treat you OK. It must have worked because in your 11 years with us you only ran once when a delivery man in a hat scared you, but you quickly returned home. Our years together were marvelous. You did not ever get over most of your fears, but you learned to love and trust all of us, even the men in our house, with dad becoming your best ear rubbing buddy. You were my pal and companion, exactly what I knew you would be. You were a great office mate, walking buddy, and great greeter. You were only sick three times in your life. In October 2014 you had a day where you had trouble walking; the vet described that event as Canine Vestibular Disease. Within days you were back to normal except for the cocked head but that was gone within weeks. You were old now, we had had you for 11 years and you were gray around the mouth and face. Your hearing was bad and your vision questionable but so still very happy. You no longer followed me everywhere I went, but you could always be found on your strategically placed bed, where you could watch all and still feel safe. It was no surprise you did not join me downstairs in my office the morning of Dec. 10, 2014. When I came up in a rush, there you were lying on your bed with Babe next to you and the cat who adored you, Bumper not far away; you were not well. Your head was cocked to the side, your tongue laying out on the floor and your eyes distant. I immediately called the vet and they saw us right away. You were checked out immediately. Your heart rate and temp were very low. I waited with you and texted daddy to let him know. The vet told me to leave so I gathered my composure hugged you and said good bye and I love you. I got the call at 1:20 p.m., you had died, peacefully and quietly but without me. I called daddy and we together went and got Addie from school so we could all come and see you and say goodbye. You were cremated on Dec. 11, 2014 one month after we celebrated your 11 year birthday/ homecoming with us. Life has changed here, I cannot work in my office and I no longer hear your excitement when I come home. Babe and Bumper still look for you and our rugs are never balled up for a comfortable resting place. I am not sure when I will feel at peace. What I do know Booh, is that I will find a place in my heart for another dog again; you taught me that. I love you and was loved by you and I know we gave you a great life, the one you deserved and for that I will forever be grateful. If you have a pet story, please send it to ssmith@parkrapidsenterprise.com along with a picture. Cody’s Corner is named after our neighborhood retriever, who passed away last fall.
BY Sarah smithssmith@parkrapidsenterprise.comThe “Story of Booh” comes to us from Julie Marzinske of Eden Prairie. We adopted you Aug. 6, 2003 at the Headwaters Human Society as a gift to me after losing my best furry pal Nakita to cancer. We named you Booh, but you had been named Star and Kelly. We bought you a red collar and purple leashThey told us your story: you were their first resident and you had been there since April. You were very shy and you had not been treated well by your previous owner so you had many fears, but you were gentle and loving to those you trusted.The trip home was stressful on you so when we opened the hatch you took off, dragging poor little Addie with you. We spent many hours that day and night looking for you and enlisted the help of many friends and neighbors, but we had no luck that day or the days and months that followed.As the weather got colder we worried more, so with the permission of our neighbor we set-up a live trap in their back yard and checked it a couple of times a day.93 nights after you ran, at 2 a.m. Nov. 11, 2003 the neighbor called and said “we got her.”Dad and I both were down there in less than five minutes. To not traumatize you with a car ride, dad walked you home.It was quite the picture, you pulling the leash as taut as possible so you are not next to “the man” dragging what was left of the purple leash.While you were away, we got a puppy, Babe. We hoped that by having a second dog you would understand we were good people and would treat you OK. It must have worked because in your 11 years with us you only ran once when a delivery man in a hat scared you, but you quickly returned home.Our years together were marvelous. You did not ever get over most of your fears, but you learned to love and trust all of us, even the men in our house, with dad becoming your best ear rubbing buddy.You were my pal and companion, exactly what I knew you would be. You were a great office mate, walking buddy, and great greeter. You were only sick three times in your life. In October 2014 you had a day where you had trouble walking; the vet described that event as Canine Vestibular Disease.Within days you were back to normal except for the cocked head but that was gone within weeks. You were old now, we had had you for 11 years and you were gray around the mouth and face.Your hearing was bad and your vision questionable but so still very happy. You no longer followed me everywhere I went, but you could always be found on your strategically placed bed, where you could watch all and still feel safe.It was no surprise you did not join me downstairs in my office the morning of Dec. 10, 2014. When I came up in a rush, there you were lying on your bed with Babe next to you and the cat who adored you, Bumper not far away; you were not well.Your head was cocked to the side, your tongue laying out on the floor and your eyes distant. I immediately called the vet and they saw us right away. You were checked out immediately.Your heart rate and temp were very low. I waited with you and texted daddy to let him know. The vet told me to leave so I gathered my composure hugged you and said good bye and I love you. I got the call at 1:20 p.m., you had died, peacefully and quietly but without me.I called daddy and we together went and got Addie from school so we could all come and see you and say goodbye. You were cremated on Dec. 11, 2014 one month after we celebrated your 11 year birthday/ homecoming with us.Life has changed here, I cannot work in my office and I no longer hear your excitement when I come home. Babe and Bumper still look for you and our rugs are never balled up for a comfortable resting place.I am not sure when I will feel at peace. What I do know Booh, is that I will find a place in my heart for another dog again; you taught me that. I love you and was loved by you and I know we gave you a great life, the one you deserved and for that I will forever be grateful.If you have a pet story, please send it to ssmith@parkrapidsenterprise.com along with a picture. Cody’s Corner is named after our neighborhood retriever, who passed away last fall.