It has been almost three months since I lost my “big guy” and
I think I can write this now with just enough tears so as I can see
what I am doing.
Beau was the first of eight puppies out of the box to greet me so of course
I had to pick him. His brother “Chance” was busy smelling the
flowers (he never did change).
If memory serves me correct it was an ad in the paper that my parents
and I responded to for “golden retriever and yellow lab cross puppies $75”.
Well I came home with not just one but two pups!
Shortly thereafter we moved from E.K out to highway 206 across
from Birdshill Park. So now we have lots of room for our puppies
and my horse. We had five acres for the pets to run around but the
fencing was for the horses only.
The dogs were taught never to cross the highway but unfortunately
someone hit Chance as he was on a side road he was killed instantly
and Beau grieved for a few months.
It was so sad he lay on the deck in the back yard and pouted
for a long time.
But moving onto Beau’s story he never had any official training
obedience or otherwise but he was a very special animal.
Not too many people can say that their dog lived for
SEVENTEEN AND A HALF YEARS and was happy
any healthy till the day of!!!!!!
After his brother died the one and only time he left the yard was
when he crossed the highway and went into the Park yard where
they kept all their construction equipment.
He must have wandered in early in the day and got locked in after 5:00.
I came home from school and I could here him barking and
whining but couldn’t see him. I eventually went to the yard and pulled
on the gate and got it open just far enough for him to squeeze
out…you never saw a dog run home so fast!!!
We eventually moved back to the city (east st. Paul) and now had a
fenced yard and he had to be on a leash.
Nothing ever really phased Beau it was like ” a leash… well all right”.
He walked like the perfect gentleman that he was he always just
caught on to things.
When I met my husband Beau was about seven and he had
never had a pet. He used to tell me things like
“I’ll never have a dog in my house!” and of course I would just laugh.
Now he lies on the floor and tells me what the dogs need!!!!
We got married and moved into an apartment on Henderson hwy
that was on the main floor and had private entrances.
Beau loved to run out to the lawn and have a good
slide n’ roll on the grass.
Well about two years later we bought a house with a fenced yard.
It is a bi-level and has a few stairs now keep in mind that Beau
is 15 years old now and until his last year went up and down the
stair without any help.
Of course since he was a wise old man the lights had to be on
and if they weren’t we certainly heard about it.
When he was 16 we adopted a 7 week old rottie/lab cross
we named JOXUR. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen but as I have
said Beau was a perfect gentleman and treated the pup with respect
but he also kept him in line.
When Joxur got to be a little to crazy or tested his place in the house
Beau would quickly ( yes at 16 he could still be quick) pin the little brat by
the throat on his back. Of course he never hurt him as he had a very soft mouth.
But I can sure see a lot of Beau’s qualities in my rott/lab Joxur.
Beau was a very quiet dog and never barked without good reason,
and Joxur is the same.
Beau had a long and healthy life although he did his best to support the
vets that he was taken to over his lifetime.
He was one of the first dogs in the city to receive a root canal which he
kept the tooth till the day he died. He also had many lumps and
bumps removed over the years none of which were
cancerous thank God.
I have to thank Dr. Bob Neufeld and Dr. Rita Mackay as they were his
main vets throughout his life. They were wonderful and I know that their
great care contributed greatly to his longevity.
I found it greatly amusing when Dr. Mackay said “his heart is starting to
show signs of age”…he was sixteen at the time.
As this past summer grew longer I knew that I would have to make that
horrible appointment which no one wants to do but we all know
we have to. Beau was not sick or suffering in any way but I was thinking
“my god how long can this go on he is over seventeen and not showing
any signs of sickness or anything?”
The only thing wrong with him was that his old legs betrayed him one day
and he could no longer stand on his own.
So we supported his as best we could we kept him clean and
comfortable and he was quite happy.
He still wagged his tail every day when I came home from work,
he definitely let me know when he was hungry and when his
water dish was empty.
I also tested Beau’s personality once more by bringing in a
1 and 1/2 year old rescue dog into his house at the ripe old age of 17.
He handled it as he did everything else “is she here to stay?… well all right”.
Beau live with RIZZO for about four weeks before his passing and all
three dogs got along famously.
As I have said a number of times Beau or “Bones” as we called him
was a gentleman so much so that he even took the burden of making
“that choice” away from me. I came home early from work and he let
me know that today was the day there was no choice to be made he
was leaving us today. He was not in pain or crying or anything like that
it was just clear that his time was now.
I called Gary at work and we rushed over to Transcona vet clinic
and said our good byes.
It was very quiet and peaceful and I have to thank you for that
Beau you made it very easy for us.
I would also like to mention the amazing support group of friends
that we have thank you so much Heather Jackie Irene
and Deb and all my crazy dog friends from the Hiflyers agility club
and Winnipeg K-9 education your cards and condolences meant
more than you could know.
Thanks for taking the time to read a long winded story about my
retriever cross that never retrieved a thing in his life.
Mr. Beau Jangles ……Danced.
See you at the Bridge buddy.
Love always,
Lisa Gary Joxur and Rizzo
| Lisa Gary Joxur and Rizzo |