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Hello friends.  Yesterday was a very sad day in our house.  Our loving friend and companion Buster unexpectedly passed away.  I cannot tell you how much this saddens my heart and we miss him so dearly.  He was one of us, a member of the family with such an incredible personality.  He was such a good dog and full of happiness and life.  I want to share some of our favorite pictures and moments with our Buster doo.  He will be remembered in our hearts forever.  

I cannot imagine life without him.  Two years ago and about 2 weeks after we moved into our new townhouse Chris and I decided it was time to enjoy the companionship of a dog like we had in our childhood.  Being away at school and moving each year throughout college didn’t lend itself to be the best for having animals, so we were absolutely thrilled to have a dog to love again.

Chris was great friends with the Las Vegas Basset Rescue and really wanted to get a basset hound like he had in his childhood.  I was always used to having laboradors and taller breeds, but I was excited for the opportunity to help a hound in need of a good home.  They are just so darn cute with their little stilt legs 🙂

When we brought him home he definitely had separation anxiety being in a new place, but we quickly won each other’s hearts over and spending each day together became so sweet.

Buster had quite the personality!  He was s0 smart in many ways and yet clueless in others.  He enjoyed nothing more than lying around and relaxing all day on his 3 beds or lounging around the house.  He never once chewed anything.

He enjoyed good belly rubs.

and loved car rides, even though most of the car rides were to get a bath or go to the vet.

Many times we would drive him to the park where he would run and fly like the wind through the grass.

I loved his perky waddle.

I remember one day we took him to the park and he just took off so happy to be alive and running!

He would usually get us up at 5am each day when he would send a good ‘woof!’ to say ‘come feed me now’ or he would smack the blinds with his tail to get us up 🙂  He kept us in shape by demanding 2 walks each day, one in the morning and evening because he loved smelling everything and saying hello to the neighbors and kids in the neighborhood.  The kids just absolutely loved him and as soon as they would bend down to pet him, he would promptly shake his head and spray them with slobber.

He loved visitors and meeting new friends to walk with.

The moment we got home (after waking him up on his bed), he would greet us with such happiness and lots of kisses.  It was always so nice to come home to.

He really liked to smell Chris’ smelly shoes.

When we were home he would follow us throughout the house to make sure we didn’t go anywhere and if we sat down at his level he would give lots of kisses and love.

He was such a great companion and sweet sweet dog.  He was our buddy.

Yesterday morning Buster had his usual good walk and good poop and was fine the entire day.  Later in the afternoon as we were going to get ready to make dinner and get him fed, he walked into our office and collapsed and had a hard time breathing.  When he wouldn’t get up for a carrot (his favorite treat) we knew something wasn’t right.  Chris rushed him immediately downstairs and to our vet.  He has had bowel problems in the past when we rushed him to the vet and it has just been bad gas.  I gave him a good hug and an ‘I love you’, but was absolutely devastated when I received the call from Chris that he had passed away.  I couldn’t believe it.  No way.  He has been fine this whole day.  What happened?  Why?  And pretty soon I was in a mess on the floor weeping for the chance to see him again.  I was heart broken and have never cried so hard in my life.

The staff members at Town Center Animal Hospital were incredible and were right there as he pulled up to give Buster the best care as soon as possible.  The vet has now confirmed that he had tumors on his heart, spleen and liver.  The one on his heart caused his labored breathing and passing.  The vet said there was no way for us to know and he recently had an x-ray that looked normal.  We think he was 9 or 10 years old, but he was not old or in any kind of pain prior.  He was so happy.  It was just so tough because it was so unexpected, but we are trying our best to hang in there.

Buster has taught us some great lessons while we have had the privilege to have him in our lives.  We are so blessed that he came into our world a little over 2 years ago.

He taught us to always enjoy the day and get out there no matter what the weather to smell the air, meet new people and get some good exercise.  I think we have gone on over 1,400 walks with him, rain or shine.  He taught us to relax a little and take a load off.  I’ve also never met another being that absolutely loved food more than I do 🙂  And most of all he taught us to be happy and spread love.

So I ask you to send a little hug or kiss to your furry friends and loved ones today for me.  Let them know they are truly loved today and every day.

We gave Buster the best life we could give, but it was just way too short.  I think we could have spent 50 years with him and it wouldn’t have been enough.  Buster doo you will be missed tremendously and remembered in our hearts forever.