FurKids We Honor

MY DOG CHARLEY

by Al Schlinger

I had a little dog named Charley
He was cute as he could be.
Wherever I went, he was sure to be.
He likes to romp and play with me
and lick me on the hand.

Now, isn't everything just grand.

The toys were all his you know
Won't you play with me?
I will go and fetch them
And bring them back to thee.

I have quite an appetite
Around the table see.
Just give me a little scrap
Or I will sit upon your lap.
If you put your plate down
I will lick it clean and it will glean.

Let's go for a walk, dad
Put my lease on please.
I have a special place you know
Where I would like to pee.
There's that crazy dog next door
He really annoys me
And that guy walking down the street
What is he to me?

Hay, let's play with Mimi
I'll show her a thing or two
What are you doing with my toy?
Please give it back to me.

Well it's time to rest now,
Turn off that darn TV.
I'll clime upon your chair
And rest my head on thee.
And when the lights go out
I know my way to my bed.

So see you tomorrow

At the edge of your bed.

Hay! It's morning
Time to rise and shine.
What's for breakfast dad?
Not that same old grind.

Got to go outside, right now.
What's that funny spell
Where did Mimi go, gosh
It's fun to be outside and alive

What's happening dad?
I don't feel good.
I kind of hurt back there.
Things are not right you know,
I can not stand alone,
Please help me dad
I don't know what to do.

Who is that man in white?
Please don't leave me dad.
Come back and say "good dog"
I'll be good dad, I'll be good

Well I made it through the night
But things are still not right.
Hay, is that you dad
Coming through the door
Is it time to go home now?

It feels good to have you hold me
You say were going for a walk?
Look there is a rainbow and bridge ahead
Maybe we should go there, just us two.

Here comes that guy in white again
What's he going to do?
I love you dad, please hold me
That's all you have to do.
We will cross that bridge together, dad
We'll show him a thing or two.

I'm on the other side now

And boy, do I feel good.

I can run and play again

Just like I use to do.

But where are you dad?

I did not see you come through.

I'll just sit and wait

Until I'm once again with you.

In Loving Memory of Roxie Swails March 23, 1991 - June 6, 2007

Approximately twenty years ago, my dear friend back in our home state of Nebraska, introduced me to her new little pup, a white powderpuff with shiny black eyes and a black nose, three lumps of coal in the snow as the typical bichon description goes. I was fascinated with the little guy, and, thus, I fell in love with the bichon frise breed! I had hoped to have one of the little white dogs at some point, but my husband and I were involved with taking dogs who needed homes so the prospect of having one seemed unlikely. Then, sixteen years ago this month, an acquaintance who knew of my love for dogs, asked me to take her four-month-old bichon frise puppy named Roxie. Finally, I had my bichon fur kid!!

Roxie had been a puppy-mill product, born in the midwest, shipped from one state to another and then to one pet shop in southern California and then to another where she was purchased by my acquaintance and kept for one month in a very restrictive environment. She was a little dog who had a tough start in life, but she came to us full of energy and playfulness, just loving her new life and home to include her new sister, a six-month-old cocker-lhaso named Chiquita.

Life with Roxie was filled with love and joy. She and her sister learned numerous tricks including rolling over, sitting up, dancing, and jumping through a hoop. She loved to perform! Her little eyes would twinkle and her face was filled with smiles. She also loved walks, prancing along in typical bichon fashion, and when the opportunity presented itself, a romp in the grass was just delightful!!

Roxie was a great little traveler, spending a good deal of time onboard our motoryacht as well as in-cabin air flights, car trips, and hotel stays. She was always a good little girl and never was cross or snappy although she avoided children and "pushy" dogs if at all possible. She loved people and hardly ever met a stranger. Games of "fetch" with her sister were lots of fun! She did share the bichon traits of a bit of stubbornness as well as a relentless begging effort. Perhaps those traits helped in the preservation of the breed over so very many years!! Roxie gave us many good laughs as she entertained us with the "bichon buzz. What excitement!!

Roxie started to have a few health problems as she entered her later years, especially with bladder infections and then arthritis. After the loss of her sister in August at the age of sixteen, Roxie began to fail even more. As she turned 16 on March 23, she was really beginning to slow down. In February we had adopted Timmy through Bichon Fur Kids in an effort to provide her with a companion, and Roxie seemed to enjoy her new brother. Within a couple of months, however, her back legs began to fail as well as her appetite and energy. With great sorrow we told our beautiful little girl good-bye on Wednesday, June 6. We miss her so very much, expecting to see her in her favorite napping places, but it is a bit of comfort to know she no longer suffers. We feel blessed to have had her for sixteen years and hope to see her again someday at the "Rainbow Bridge".

- Kate, Leon and Timmy

Revised on July 23, 2008 19:48:20 by Eileen Davinroy? (75.23.163.252)