I met Bogart for the first time when he was 8 weeks old. We had (at the time) a 1 year old German Shepard named Haley. Haley wasn't mean, just loved to pester an older dog we had at the time named Skippy. So I told my wife, we need a dog that is not going to take any crap off her or any other dog. We heard that a friend had some puppy's for sale and they were 1/2 Rottweiler, 1/2 coon hound. When we got there, there was 1 puppy who wouldn't let any other puppy around the puppy food. As we watched, this puppy would eat with 1 eye on the other dogs, as soon as 1 got too close, he would chase them away. Bogart seemed like the perfect name. Well, him and Haley hit it off right away. And believe me, he never took any crap off her. Instead, they became best friends. And thank God, he had enough room in that big loving heart of his for me and my family. Bogart grew to 125 pounds of pure eating and lovable machine. Always ready to play, receive a hug, and to give anyone who got close enough, a big wet kiss. Over the 8 years that we were together, he protected this family countless times, chased 100's of squirrels out of the yard, ate a ton of both dog food and what ever scraps (and the occasional steak bone) that was given to him. He always was there to have his ears scratched or just to sit on the back deck beside me. He always knew me as good as I knew myself. He was my best friend.
Yesterday, we took him to the vet. because he hadn't ate much and was losing weight. After a lot of test, the vet (who Bogart had made friends with years ago) told us he had liver failure and was diabetic. She gave us insulin and some anti nausea meds that we were to give him through injections but told us not to get our hopes up. She said my buddy didn't have much of a chance.
My wife and I along with our 2 kids spent all evening with him as he curled up on his favorite blanket on the living room floor. About 2 am this morning, my buddy, with one last breath past away with his head on my lap. I cried for the loss my heart felt and for the hole that was now in our lives.
Over the next 2 hours by flashlights, my 2 sons and I dug a 3x3x3 hole, talking about Bogart's life. Mostly laughing quietly at the funny things he did, and a little bit of tears. My sons are 19 and 16 and I prayed the whole time to let it be easy on them. It was not. We buried Bogart in the back yard under a cedar tree at 5 am this morning we buried Bogart and said our long goodbyes.
When I came in the house, cold and shivering from the cold January morning, our old dog Haley came and sat by me feet and looked up at me with a look of 1/2 question and 1/2 knowing......We all miss you Bogart. You was and will always be loved.
