Goodbye my Beautiful Bozzy

I'm sorry that I've been absent the last few days. Unfortunately, as my title says, we lost our beautiful boy Bozzy (Boris) yesterday.  He had gone down hill the last couple of days and yesterday we made the heartbreaking decision that it was time for him to leave us.  He was just short of his 21st birthday so had a wondefully long life but, at the moment, that doesn't make things any easier. 

My husband, Jon, had him for nearly 19 years when turned up on his doorstep and never left.  I've known, sorry knew him for nearly 9 years and lived with him for the last 5 years of his life.  Those 5 years have been the most enriching and love-filled 5 years of my life because of that little man and that is why I'm really struggling not having him with us anymore.

We do know that it was the right thing to do (his vet agreed we'd brought him in at the right time) and we believe that Bozzy knew what was happening and was at peace with it because, for the first time in days, he settled into my dad's arms as we were getting his basket and he stayed there.  He was virtually asleep by the time we were called into the vets and didn't really stir much when we placed him on Jon's lap for one last time.  I was stroking his head and talking to him as he left us for Rainbow Bridge where he will wait for us to all be together again.

This poem has been helping us come to terms with things:

If It Should Be

If it should be that I grow frail and weak

And pain should keep me from my sleep

Then you must do what must be done

For this last battle can`t be won.

You will be sad, I understand,

Don`t let your grief then stay your hand

For this day, more than all the rest

Your love and friendship stands the test.

We`ve had so many happy years

What is to come can hold no fears.

Would you want me to suffer? So

When the time comes, please let me go.

Take me where my needs they`ll tend

Only stay with me until the end

And hold me firm and speak to me

Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time that you will see

It is a kindness that you do to me

Although my tail it`s last has waved

From pain and suffering I have been saved

Do not grieve it should be you

Who must decide this thing to do.

We`ve been so close, we two these years

Don`t let your heart, hold any tears.

I hope that you will bear with me in these first few difficult and emotinal days and weeks as we come to terms with the loss of our beautiful boy.  He was more than just a pet to us, he was part of our family, our little boy and there is a huge whole in hearts and lives without him.

xx