TexasTini
Super Boxer
Eleve years ago and one steamy summer day in Illinois I answered an ad for boxer puppies for sale.
My son, 7 at the time, and myself went on our journey to pick up our puppy. While I had my eye on a female frisking around the farm, Shadow (the runt) picked out my son. I was a goner and it was love at first site.
Shadow was a busy little bugger man. He let Brandon dress him up like a football player. Delighted in playing "cha cha cha" with the little boys in the back yard. Sleeping with our son every night. We were constantly at the vet the first few months we had him. He was always eating things he should not have and subsequently getting a nasty dose of hives on a regular basis.
Two years later, our daughter came along. While he wasn't quite the same with her as Brandon, he was a gentle giant. Always there as a pillow for Emily to lay on.
He moved with us from one town to another in Illinois and then to Massachusetts.
In January of this year, Shadow started slipping on the hardwood floors. By May his legs were giving out on him and he would fall all the time. He made it to see Brandon graduate from high school...which we always knew he would. By the middle of July, he could no longer walk. His life became nothing more than being able to lay on his side and eat and drink that way.
I was on vacation in Texas and kept getting updates about Shadow's condition from my hubby and son, who stayed home to take care of him. My husband kept trying to prepare me for what I would be coming home to.
I came home on August 1st and it was just as bad as I thought it would be. On the next day, after watching him fall and then laying there looking at me almost as if he was saying for me to help, I called the vet. I knew that I wanted to be in the room with him, so needed an appointment. With a heavy heart I made the appointment for the following day.
For the next two days, I let all my work go...unpacking, doing laundry, etc. and just spent the next two days laying on the floor, loving and taking naps at my boys' side.
The drive to the vets office was the hardest trip I have ever made. The rest of my family decided that they didn't think they could be with him in the room, so they waited outside. I sat on the floor with my love and held him in my lap. Dr. Friday came in and told me what to expect.
I was there when my sweet little angel took his last breath and gently laid his head down on my lap. I sat with him for a few minutes and just stroked the bridge of his nose. He went so peaceful! It was the hardest thing I have ever done, but I know it was necessary.
My son is an artist. Lucky for me, about three years ago he painted a beautiful oil painting of Shadow that I have always had hanging on the wall looking back at me when I'm sitting in my chair. I had no idea how much I would appreciate this picture until now.
A week ago on Sunday, we all put together a memorial for Shadow. I bought a stepping stone kit from the craft store and a little boxer statue from the mall.
My grief is getting a little easier. Two days after Shadow left us, I got another boxer. I felt guilty, but I just can't not have a boxer in my presense.
I think Abby is going to be a good girl. I forgot how busy baby boxers are! She does keep me distracted and is starting to wiggle her way into my heart! Everyone in the family has a smile on their faces. They do bring a lot of joy.
God Bless! This is just the greatest website!
Love,
Linda Sue
My son, 7 at the time, and myself went on our journey to pick up our puppy. While I had my eye on a female frisking around the farm, Shadow (the runt) picked out my son. I was a goner and it was love at first site.
Shadow was a busy little bugger man. He let Brandon dress him up like a football player. Delighted in playing "cha cha cha" with the little boys in the back yard. Sleeping with our son every night. We were constantly at the vet the first few months we had him. He was always eating things he should not have and subsequently getting a nasty dose of hives on a regular basis.
Two years later, our daughter came along. While he wasn't quite the same with her as Brandon, he was a gentle giant. Always there as a pillow for Emily to lay on.
He moved with us from one town to another in Illinois and then to Massachusetts.
In January of this year, Shadow started slipping on the hardwood floors. By May his legs were giving out on him and he would fall all the time. He made it to see Brandon graduate from high school...which we always knew he would. By the middle of July, he could no longer walk. His life became nothing more than being able to lay on his side and eat and drink that way.
I was on vacation in Texas and kept getting updates about Shadow's condition from my hubby and son, who stayed home to take care of him. My husband kept trying to prepare me for what I would be coming home to.
I came home on August 1st and it was just as bad as I thought it would be. On the next day, after watching him fall and then laying there looking at me almost as if he was saying for me to help, I called the vet. I knew that I wanted to be in the room with him, so needed an appointment. With a heavy heart I made the appointment for the following day.
For the next two days, I let all my work go...unpacking, doing laundry, etc. and just spent the next two days laying on the floor, loving and taking naps at my boys' side.
The drive to the vets office was the hardest trip I have ever made. The rest of my family decided that they didn't think they could be with him in the room, so they waited outside. I sat on the floor with my love and held him in my lap. Dr. Friday came in and told me what to expect.
I was there when my sweet little angel took his last breath and gently laid his head down on my lap. I sat with him for a few minutes and just stroked the bridge of his nose. He went so peaceful! It was the hardest thing I have ever done, but I know it was necessary.
My son is an artist. Lucky for me, about three years ago he painted a beautiful oil painting of Shadow that I have always had hanging on the wall looking back at me when I'm sitting in my chair. I had no idea how much I would appreciate this picture until now.
A week ago on Sunday, we all put together a memorial for Shadow. I bought a stepping stone kit from the craft store and a little boxer statue from the mall.
My grief is getting a little easier. Two days after Shadow left us, I got another boxer. I felt guilty, but I just can't not have a boxer in my presense.
I think Abby is going to be a good girl. I forgot how busy baby boxers are! She does keep me distracted and is starting to wiggle her way into my heart! Everyone in the family has a smile on their faces. They do bring a lot of joy.
God Bless! This is just the greatest website!
Love,
Linda Sue
