Buster Brown Dog

Born Aug. 5, 1998, died Feb. 23, 2009.

We went to the humane society, and there he was, in a cage, with "last day" marked on the top of the cage.  We knew immediately what this meant.  He was a 12 week old puppy, and he immediately bounced around the kennel as if saying goodbye to all of his room mates.  What a joy to bring home to our mountain!  This mountain was immediately adopted as Buster's mountain.  Initially when we placed our hand to him to pet/play with him, he would duck backwards as if he were going to be hit.  It's absolutely amazing what a puppy can pick up and learn in the first few weeks of life.  With time he developed a deep trust with us.

I can still see that contented look on him as he lay in the grass on a cool summer evening after a hot day and just watched his mountain.  He loved his morning trots up through the mountain also, I sure would love to know where he went some mornings, but he never failed to return for his breakfast and settle in to his rest of the day routine which consisted of keeping Lucy and Maggie out of trouble.

Buster never had a complaint, was never pushy, and always let his humans go through any door or down the stairs first.  He loved to get up on the couch, but only if he wasn't going to be in the way; it was almost as if he would ask permission first.  He was the perfect dog of routine, and he loved to stick to his routine.

I can only remember once when he was very insistent and demanding.  Last summer he wanted to go for a car ride when we were going to town, and he jumped into the car, refusing to come out.  This was so unlike him to disobey, but on the other hand he never really demanded much at all, so we took him.  He was laying in the back sleeping before we got to the highway.  Private time he wanted with us, and private time he deserved.

He was beaten by another animal of some sorts a few years ago, and came back to the house totally beat up.  A mad dash to the vet, surgery and numerous months of healing gave us back our dog.  He never had a complaint with dressing changes and numerous daily injections.

He went into second puppy hood when Maggie came as a pup.  How he loved to play with her until she was big enough to fend for herself.  Lucy was his true love, he'd bounce out the door in the morning, do a quick flip around and when Lucy joined him, he was always so excited.  

Oh, he loved his chicken.  Just a few small morsels placed into his kibble and the bowl if kibble disappeared very fast.

Buster was always such a pleasure.  We never had anything to complain about with him.  He never forgot anything either.  When people came to visit, he turned into a different dog, especially if it was someone he loved.  He was all over them.  

And, oh how he loved to be brushed on a warm summer night outside, he'd lay for hours if we'd spend that much time brushing him.  Now bathing him was another story.  It was ok, as long as we didn't use a hose.

During the last couple of years he would come home from his morning mountain jaunts with a stiffness, and with a little rest this would disappear until the next jaunt.  Earlier in Feb. 2009 was no different, he came home limping on his front right leg.  We just thought a little rest and this too would pass.  Approximately a week later it seemed to be worsening, and a little puffy looking.  We took him to the vet, and he gave him antibiotics and pain medication.  About 2 weeks later, with the antibiotics gone, the swelling grew tremendously as did the pain.  He couldn't walk on it at all.  Over his last weekend it grew at an alarming rate within 2 days and the leg developed a deformed look.  Mon. Feb. 23, had us making another trip to the vet.  The xray showed a sarcoma (cancer) which had totally eaten through the bone on his knee.  The vet was astounded that he hadn't broken it yet, and stated that this will likely happen in a day or two, and the cancer would spread rapidly.  The only option is removing his leg, but the cancer would still spread.  At age 10, and with it being his front leg, he would not cope well.

  

This dog gave us so much unconditional love and joy over the years.  The only humane thing to do was to give him a pain free ending to his life and not make him suffer any more.  He really had a wonderful life here on his mountain and has only really suffered over the past couple of weeks, and really didn't even complain about that, although the look in his eyes told he was in pain.

Life here is feeling sorta empty at the moment.  I put away his bowl, and leash.  I still expect to see him come through the door when I open it to let Lucy and Maggie inside.  Lucy is starting to look out over the mountain, I know she is wondering.  I wish I could explain to her.

This mountain won't be quite the same for a while, but I know we made the right decision and I feel privileged to have had such a wonderful friend in my life as Buster Brown Dog.  Time will heal, and remembering him as the wonderful dog he was, will help me get through this.

So long big Brown Boy, thank you for sharing your life with us.  You were loved!!