This wasn't the first thing I wanted to write, but it wasn't exactly what we were expecting to return home to either. Our golden"Beau Beau", as the girls call him, had suddenly stopped eating while we were away. We were hoping he was just depressed from missing us or had a tooth issue. First thing on Monday, we took him to the vet and found the cause was not quite as easy... There was a mass growing in his abdomen. He looked almost pregnant with the amount of fluid that was increasing daily in his belly and chest. There was nothing that could be done. The fluid was beginning to make breathing difficult for him, and with his already existing back problems he was hardly able to walk and still had hardly any appetite, even for his favorite snacks and treats.
So, yesterday, we said goodbye to our favorite furry buddy, Beucephus Willard Johnson.
He was our first furry kid.
He gave us reason to have some of our first parenting "discussions".
He was always a comfort and fuzzy pillow - occasionally a furry tissue - during the ups and downs of early marriage, pregnancy hormones and new babies.
He kept our feet warm during many, many movies.
He never failed to sing (howl) along when he heard happy birthday sung to anyone.
He traveled from the mountains to the sea many times with us.
He experienced lots of milestones with us, including our first wedding anniversary (and seven more), moving from Charleston to Charlotte, and growing our family by two sweet girls.
He welcomed both Dylann and Annabel home from the hospital and became their best friend and favorite play mate.
He survived sharing his doggie role in our home with a timid, sweet Berner named Izzy for several years and even managed to befriend her.
He overzealously welcomed many friends into our home, paying special attention to those who prefer not to be warmly attacked by a large furry animal.
His ferocious sounding bark (with little backing it) always made us feel safe in our home and we were thankful even though it woke the occasional sleeping baby.
Until his last days, he never failed to greet us as soon as he heard our garage door going up.
We have some adjusting to do as we get used to routines and life with out our sweet buddy. It's funny how much you miss something that drove you crazy (like fishy-dog breath) when you don't have it following you around everywhere you go...
"Beau" (Beaucephus Willard Johnson) • November 8, 2004 to June 20, 2012
