You came to us In June, 1998, and we sorrowfully had to part with you on March 14, 2001. We know that you are free of pain and in Heaven with all the four-footed friends who went before you as well as the people who love you and are caring for you.
You were a gift to us from our two daughters, Linda and Pat to celebrate our 60th Wedding anniversary. You looked so sad and thin and dejected, not the happy frisky Boxer we were expecting. You had apparently had a pretty rough time for several months, but you wanted to be accepted and loved and tried very hard to be friendly. Your first love went to your new dad, but it took some time for you to really trust your new Mom. 1 figured that somewhere in your background some woman had been mean to you. I worked very hard to earn your love and trust, and in time you gave back a hundred-fold so much devotion, it will be with us for the rest of our lives.
In just a couple of weeks we knew that you were someone special. Most boxers have good dispositions, but yours was the BEST. You loved people and other dogs alike, and our two-year old great grandson was accepted by you with no apprehension or nervousness. Apparently you had known a small baby in your early life. One day you were in the front bedroom and a commercial on TV at the back of the house showed a baby that was crying. You came dashing out and looked all around the TV looking for the baby. We also noted that you had been familiar with motor homes, because you became rather excited when walking with your dad you went by the RV park where mobile homes were parked.
You were a "party animal" and loved it when we had a houseful of people. We think that in your earliest life someone thought a great deal of you, as you had Impeccable manners, your ears were beautifully cropped and tall docked; and your general lines were very good.
You had a few boxer tricks that came out in time. One day when you and I were alone I dozed in my chair. You no doubt became bored and found a wastebasket in the kitchen that I was going to take out and empty. I woke up and saw a mound of something on a small rug between the dining room and the living room. 1 thought "Oh, oh" and walked toward the mound. You had carefully taken apple parings out of the wastebasket, nothing else, and piled them neatly on a mound on the rug. Then you lay down with your head between your two front paws and waited patiently for me to wake up. Those big brown eyes looked at me as 1 walked toward the mound of parings to see what I was going to do about it. I couldn't help but laugh -- then we were really friends.
When we first had you, there were times about five p.m. when you seemed to be expecting someone and looked a little sad for a time. In time you got over your loneliness for someone you had known. In fact as time went on you bonded more and more with us and became our constant companion, friend and protector. We had many traumatic events in that second year you were with us, and we truly believe that had we not had you, we would never have survived. God gave you to us for a purpose. I guess that God decided we could survive on our own then and took you home with him.
Your health was never the best, but you tried to hide your pain and discomfort. You must have hurt a lot from the arthritis in your hips, yet you pretended you were young and healthy. You loved stuffed toys, but you didn't want to play with a ball. You loved your big bed and liked to be covered with a blanket, with a pillow for your head. You enjoyed a smaller bed in the family room where you could be with us, and yet be comfortable.
We miss you, Duke, and many of the people who live in this park miss you too. The children used to fine up to pet you as you walked by, with your head high, truly a Duke. We love ail boxers, but none could ever come near to your beautiful disposition, looks and love you gave to us. Sleep well, and remember one day we will hopefully meet again. Be happy in Heaven. |
