It was a nice Spring day at our headquarters in East LA when Kay Michelson stopped by my office. Kay was the Special Assistant to the Director of LA County's Animal Care and Control Department. I had mentioned that I would like a "previously owned, well trained Golden Retriever." I guess I had also mentioned that my dear friend Ralph Cryder loved Cocker Spaniels. What Kay had in her arms was an adorable, 10 week old Cocker Spaniel puppy. Boogs had been adopted but returned by the two hapless teenagers who had no money and no landlord permission for a dog. Kay explained that if I didn't want him she would take him elsewhere. Right!
That day little work was done as people came by to see the new pup barricaded in the Executive suite. He had many walks with admiring employees and then went to Seal Beach to settle in.
I hired a trainer to help but she was either inept or he was incorrigible-or both. His energy and imagination were boundless and I swear, the arm that held the leash became permanently extended. The down cushions, Dooney and Burke purses as well as shoes became victims. Over the years, his keen nose enabled him to find food and stuffed toys, wherever they might be hiding. His cousin Christina bought me Godiva dark chocolate truffles for my birthday and thought they were well out of reach. Wrong. A turkey baster and hydrogen peroxide, coupled with hand holding from the Poison Control Center averted disaster. His early pictures have never been digitized but he had his professional portrait done after I adopted his brother Raggamuffin, again through Kay, two years later.
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Boogs covered with mud, Raggie clean
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These two boys could not be more different. Boogs was carefree and completely his "own dog." He is determined and not particularly sensitive to disapproval. He has never been jealous of Raggie and will discover whatever mischief is possible. Raggie, on the other hand, is very sensitive to disapproval and easy to manage. His biggest worry is that Boogs is getting something he isn't. His only naughtiness is his propensity to roll in disgusting things. This picture, taken after the huge Hanukkah storm of 2006 says it all.
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| Taking up boating in middle age |
Boogs had an adventurous life. He has traveled in 4 different RV's to 25 states, six Canadian provinces and one territory as well as throughout Baja. He has been been on a boat in Southern California and the Puget Sound.
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On the beach in Mulege
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| Bryce National Park |
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| Spring in Death Valley |
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Attempted Stick theft in Catalina
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When Boogs was 10 he moved to Vashon Island in the Puget Sound. The country living definitely agreed with him. Unlike the 25' wide lot in Seal Beach, he now had acres in which to roam and interesting critters to smell. He developed a taste for sugar snap peas right off the vine in his garden.
The cold weather and occasional snow necessitated a new wardrobe.
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| Boogs' Pharmacists, Dave and Myra |
Boogs began losing eye function at least 10 years ago and has had an ophthalmologist ever since. In recent years he has required 5 different eye medicines to prolong sight and avoid eye removal. Vashon Island is very much a "small town" and in recent years he has had his own pharmacists to insure his continued health.
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| Dr. Dana and her sheep Lintzilla in the Strawberry Parade |
These last few months have been bittersweet. We knew the diagnosis of bone cancer meant the end was near but with the help of Dr. Dana, prednisolone and Boogs' indomitable spirit we eked out a few more months. He and Raggie went pretty much everywhere with us and I found a wonderful Romney sheepskin for his comfort in the car.
After retirement in 2003 I spent most of my time with Boogs, Raggie and Himself. Boogs has been so much a part of my life that it is hard to imagine him gone. Himself never had a dog before and has loved the boys as much as I do. He has been so understanding lately as our life revolved around caring for my beloved Boogs, keeping him comfortable and as well fed as possible. I think Boogs knew he was being cared for and was so trusting as blindness and the cancer too its toll. He asked that his favorite song be part of his remembrance.
Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine
The cold weather and occasional snow necessitated a new wardrobe.
After retirement in 2003 I spent most of my time with Boogs, Raggie and Himself. Boogs has been so much a part of my life that it is hard to imagine him gone. Himself never had a dog before and has loved the boys as much as I do. He has been so understanding lately as our life revolved around caring for my beloved Boogs, keeping him comfortable and as well fed as possible. I think Boogs knew he was being cared for and was so trusting as blindness and the cancer too its toll. He asked that his favorite song be part of his remembrance.