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I am reminded of what a great life I had with Bo as I look at all the pictures I took of him throughout the last 10 yrs. He was often with me no matter where I went. We visited six different states, swam in several different bodies of water, and slept under many stars together. We both rejected peas but salivated over steak. It was always time to play, rain or shine, sunrise or sunset. I will be expecting to hear for some time the thumping sounds you made when you shook your head or wagged your tail. I am eternally grateful to have had such a handsome, sweet, smart and loving dog.

We ran out of time and never got to take our planned cross country trip. In the end however, through the efforts of some amazing doctors, I was given 10 more months with my best friend.

A huge thank you goes out to the medical team that treated and cared for Mr. Bojangles. Specifically, Dr Kelson Danielson at Blue Pearl; http://bluepearlvet.com/newyork/kelson-danielson-dvm/, Dr Michelle Cohen at Verg; http://www.verg-brooklyn.com/our-team/veterinarians/oncology/ and Dr. Daniel Leiman http://www.northsideveterinaryclinic.com/id-6722. When things were the most grim, you helped us navigate our options with the utmost professionalism, patience and compassion. Its worth sharing that not long after surgery, Bo bounced right back to his normal self. I would have loved for you all to see Bo running, playing fetch and even chasing deer in the mountains of Upstate NY. Your intervention gave us all more quality time together filled with happiness and pure joy.

 

There is a bright new star in the sky tonight. Bojangles my son, you were my friend, my light, my trusted companion of over 10 yrs. Although disease took your body, your spirit lives on in me. Thank you my boy for the privilege of being your mommy. I may have found you that fateful morning in a North Caroline field but you baby were the one who rescued me. I wish I could go with you but someday, when my time comes, I know you will be there waiting for me with a soccer ball at my feet begging for me to kick it. Void of pain now you are running in beautiful fields, napping under the suns of paradise and swimming in the waters of eternity. My heart is broken. I love you madly and I miss you deeply. May God bless you always. May 5, 2004 – Sept 20, 2014

Bojangles has many nicknames we call him. I was reminded of them by the surgeon this morning who asked me if there was anything else he needed to know before he went off to perform the surgery. I said, “Yes there is one last thing, Bojangles may be his full name but please call him Bo or puppy. He responds to those best. I only call him Bojangles when hes in trouble.” To which Dr. Danielson replied, “My mom does that too.”

So here are all the nicknames Bo has accumulated over the years:

Bo, Bo-licious, Boo-jee, Bo-nus, Bo-ster, Bobo, papa (accent on the last “a” otherwise it sounds like that Barbara Streisand song in Yentle), puppy, puppy power, pup, moosh, monster, monster truck, oso mio (my bear in spanish), oso feroz (ferocious bear in spanish).

Yes, he actually responds to them ALL, especially when they are said by me in only the way his mama can say it.

 

“Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer in dogs. It can affect any dog, and seems to be quite prevalent in certain breeds. The cause of bone cancer is not known, although several theories have been postulated.”

Was it something I did? Was it his food? Was it where he played? Did something bite/cut him? His innocence, his total reliance on me to look over him, how have I failed him now?

“It occurs most often in the long bones, particularly the distal wrist or ankle, or proximal hip or shoulder bones.” 

Physically, he is striking and fit, even at nine years old. Regal, yet soft and tender. A good candidate he will make to withstand the surgery; amputation of the front right leg. Along with several courses of chemo, they will give him the best chances to survive the longest. We have much yet to do he and I.

How did we get here?

Over the course of the past few months, he had developed a limp. Initially treated by our local vet with pain killers, persistent lameness, pain and swelling resulted in xrays being taken.What we saw was difficult to believe. His bone appeared to have been eaten away leaving only one.

Get him to a specialist stat! How, I can barely get off the floor after receiving what feels like a sucker punch to the gut!