Rest in Peace, BOOMER

Boomer and family visiting us while we were on the Georgia mission

In this picture, you will see Boomer, the smartest, funniest, and craziest Basset Hound you will ever meet.  Each Halloween, as he saw everyone dressing up in costumes, he'd get upset and do his big booming bay (howl) if he couldn't also have a costume.  R.  would put him in a costume and he'd prance around on his big short legs all proud and happy, posing for pictures.  He also loved wearing hats, or glasses, jewelry, and any other outfit someone would bestow upon him from time to time.  If he were human, he probably would have been called a cross dresser, though his outfits weren't necessarily female.  You have to admit, along with him, that human females certainly had a better choice for flamboyance and frills.

Boomer had his last Halloween party a week ago on Friday.  He was dressed in costume and enjoyed himself immensely being the life of the party.  Perhaps there are pictures that will get posted on Facebook so we can see his costume. 

The day after the party his health began to deteriorate and is was downhill from there.  He will miss the actual day of Halloween this year because he is leaving today, but he got that last party in.  R. has chosen to do the most loving, unselfish act a pet owner can do and help him on his way out of the torment, pain, and suffering of his current world.  He has gone blind, has various other health issues that have made him miserable, and he lost the use of his back legs.  He gave her that look that said, "Please do something and help me--fix it!"  He will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed.  The funeral is this afternoon in Florida.  He'll be buried under the grapefruit tree in their back yard.  He liked that spot for shade and he could survey his little kingdom there in peace and guard the property from real or imagined threats. 

Boomer has lived a charmed life.  His eating habits (rather, stealing food habits) took him to the emergency vet office many times.  He enjoyed everything the family was into--especially food.  He learned how to make the corner circular kitchen cabinet spin around and bring him goodies he wasn't supposed to eat--like chocolate coco puffs.  He was family and thus a part of everything.  It is an understatement to say he will be missed.  We know he is in a happier place, but that isn't much comfort right now for his family when they cannot see, hear, or touch him, even though we know time will eventually soften the great sorrow of losing such a precious individual. 

Our wish to the family is that there will be great comfort in memories of the happy and goofy times with him.  Those will live on forever with the joyful gratitude that Boomer was able to share a grand life with you.

Just recently, many of our family members have been dealing with the decision to let their aging pets go on to a better place.  D. had to make that decision a few weeks ago for the family cat, Midnight.  It was terribly upsetting for the whole family.  He'd been around a long time, with most the children growing up with him.  Then, K., had to decide what to do with her dog, Cajun.  He is getting on in years and has cancer.  She decided on surgery and Chemo to give him more time, but there will come a day she'll have to face that big decision.  All of us have been there.  Just before I left for the mission, C. had to have her dog, Sage, euthanized.  I went with her and it was heartbreaking to let her go.  S. is trying to know the right time to let her dog, Zeus, go.  He too is very old and suffering many health problems and pain.

To all of you who have lost or will soon be losing your beloved pets, may you find comfort and peace in knowing you will see them all again.  Their spirits are alive and their sick old bodies had to be put to rest for a while.  What a wonderful reunion you have to look forward to someday when all is put back into perfect order.  Meanwhile, they may be nearer to you than you know.