Our dog Bo

Have I ever told you how Bo came to be a beloved member of our family?

Five years ago our darling boxer, Kirby, died. We were devastated, and Hannah, our Husky and Kirby's best friend in the entire world, went a little crazy - or a lot crazy depending on the week. By the end of the Winter we knew that it was time to get another dog for her. We called Boxer Rescue. They didn't have a dog that fit our needs (as we wanted a male who was about her same age), but they'd let us know.

About a month later they had a dog for us to meet. His name was Bo, he was about a year younger than Hannah, and he was being surrendered from his second home. Hearing this, we were sure we'd find a hyper dog with something wrong with him.

The dog we met was the most mellow, loving, adorable boxer boy ever (along with Kirby, of course). The woman from Boxer Rescue said she would only place him with us if we agreed to be his forever family. We couldn't imagine not loving this dog forever - but asked why he had been surrendered to Boxer Rescue not once, but twice? His first owner had to move out of state, and didn't want to take him with them, and his second owners were getting a divorce and could no longer keep the dogs they had. How awful is that? I cannot stand people who think a pet is no more important than a piece of furniture. It doesn't quite fit? Get rid of it. It's really hateful.

Our DD1, who was 5 at the time and had clasped herself around Bo the second he came in to the room, told the woman "we will love him forever." The woman from Boxer Rescue cried, and we told her that - barring any bizarre behavior in the next month or so - we absolutely took animals in to our home as a "forever" agreement only. Bo would be our 3rd rescue dog, and we took that responsibility very seriously.

And, to this day, we cannot fathom anyone ever giving this dog away for any reason. He came to us with the most perfect manners and the most gentle disposition of any dog we've ever had. He was a joy, a love sponge, so amazing with our kids - never, ever minding them prodding him and being showered with their attention. After his first year, some of his impeccable manners had lessened, we're a fairly relaxed group about things like joining us in the same room for dinner - and his playful side had appeared. He was so dear!

We were his forever home. We loved him, we treasured him, and we never forgot how lucky we were that he found his way in to our lives. Bo had two little funny swirls of fur, one below each shoulder. In reading DD1's story journal not long ago I read a story she wrote about that being where his wings were attached when he was an angel.

Bo died on Friday night. We are sad, and we miss him so much. The unconditional love of a dog is a gift, and we will forever be grateful for the gift of his love, and hope we loved him enough in return. He will always be our angel dog.