Kelso Memorial Page

Kelso was a joy to our family for nine years and the best natured dog we ever knew. He brought us many years of happiness, love and protection. He had a vocabulary of 90 words, did many tricks and spent his entire life trying to please everyone in the family and many friends. His expressive face showed smiles, love, concern and many emotions only an owner could see, but never once did I see any anger, just gratitude to be with us. Everyone was always amazed at how well he obeyed and at his natural good manners. Some asked me if I could train their children that well for them.

He could not see a small child without wagging his tail and bending his back to walk sideways, as only boxers do, while trying to lick their face. He was always happy to be at the bottom of the totem pole. When our first precious daughter came he was three and he immediately loved her and wanted to lick her face. Then we had our second baby girl when he was six, love at first sight also, though he knew what that meant now. Even though they always took attention away from him and tried to order him around, he would always get excited when he heard the garage door open or when I said their names, doing that rear end wiggle to show his glee. And he would be a little sad when anyone was away and stay closer. He was even happy to be taken for walks on a leash inside the house by our three year old and could be coaxed into a large TV play box, closet or fort build of pillows. The worst he ever did to object was to go off in a corner and put out a big sigh as he put his head down with eyes open to stay alert for mischief.

He made us feel safe and loved and would have done anything to protect us from harm. We hope there is an afterlife for all souls and spirits who pass through this world and bring only joy to others. His favorite pastimes where walks and hikes in the woods (esp. Maine), chasing rabbits and squirrels (he never caught a one) hunting frogs in ponds, and "zooming" down the driveway and circling around the house as fast as he could. He would zoom past me as he fast as he could playing "you can't catch (or even touch) me" and did this as recently as two weeks before he past away. He also liked to sail, though coming about worried him when the sails flapped in the wind and the deck pivoted 50 degrees, while the boat swung through the wind and he needed to use his rubber booties to get his new footing in the cockpit. If he was behind the wheel sitting on the seats near me he would just walk to the other side causally. He was so well liked that our neighbors sometimes left their screen door open just so in the morning he could come in and wake up their teenage daughter with a warm lick on the face.

How many people would be ecstatic to see you when you locked them in the room (so he didn't eat the furniture from boredom) and left him alone all day as we did as little as possible? What would they have to say to you when you finally let them out? Well when we let Kelso out of his room he would immediately bring us any toy, or a shoe or even a heavy hand weight, if he could not find a toy quickly enough, and just do his happy dance for us with never a hard feeling or thought. He always made coming home a pleasure no matter what or where you were coming from.

He always liked to do lookout duty over the front yard at the stairs window, which was just high enough for him to stand or sit and watch from. Sometimes if we told him someone was coming (he knew the word "visitor" and many peoples' names) he would rest his head on the window sill and wait patiently. He also slept there most nights so he could keep watch over everyone, both upstairs and downstairs, and never miss any goings on. Knowing Kelso was on duty made everyone feel much safer.

He was a member of our family and a great friend and we will miss him deeply.

May everyone be blessed with a pet who brings so much happiness to their family!

Above - Happy to get relief on an early morning dingy trip to shore and Always Part of the Action

Kelso we are very grateful you blessed us with your presence
here on earth and with a heavy heart and tearful eyes we all say:

Poetry Provided by the many people at The Boxer List at Yahoo: bxf@yahoogroups.com

Thank you all for your comforting words of support for our family!

PAWPRINTS ON MY SOUL
Heaven got a STAR today
And earth seemed somehow dim...
On angels' wings you went to God
And leapt, four-footed to Him.

Wait for me, my dearest
Though your gone I'm not alone....
You've left pictures in my memory
And pawprints on my soul.

*sniff*

THE DANCE

"The Gentleman"

The Journey

By Tony Arata

Looking back on the memory of
The dance we shared 'neath the stars above
For a moment all the world was right
How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye

And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end, the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

Holding you, I held everything
For a moment wasn't I a king
But if I'd only known how the King would fall
Hey, whose to say, you know
I might have changed it all

And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end, the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

Yes my life is better left to chance

I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

I own a dog who is a gentleman;
By birth most surely, since the creature can
Boast of a pedigree the like of which
Holds not a Howard or a Metternich

By breeding. Since the walks of life he trod
He never wagged an unkind talk abroad.
He never snubbed a nameless cur because
Without a friend or credit card he was.

By pride. He looks you squarely in the face
Unshrinking and without a single trace
Of either diffidence or arrogant
Assertion such as upstarts often flaunt.

By tenderness. The littlest girl may tear
With absolute impunity his hair,
And pinch his silken ears the while
He smiles upon her -- yes, I've seen him smile.

By loyalty. No truer friend than he
Has come to prove his friendship's worth to me
He does not fear the master -- Knows no fear --
But loves the man who is his master here.

By Countenance. If there be nobler eyes,
More full of honor and of honesties,
In finer head, on broader shoulders found --
Then have I never met the man or hound.

Here is the motto of my lifeboat's log:

'GOD GRANT I MAY BE WORTHY OF MY DOG!'

~~~~Author unknown

by Crystal Ward Kent

When you bring a pet into your life, you begin a journey - a journey that will bring you more love and devotion than you have ever known, yet also test your strength and courage. If you allow, the journey will teach you many things, about life, about yourself, and most of all, about love. You will come away changed forever, for one soul cannot touch another without leaving its mark. Along the way, you will learn much about savoring life's simple pleasures - jumping in leaves, snoozing in the sun, the joys of puddles, and even the satisfaction of a good scratch behind the ears. If you spend much time outside, you will be taught how to truly experience every element, for no rock, leaf, or log will go unexamined, no rustling bush will be overlooked, and even the very air will be inhaled, pondered, and noted as being full of valuable information. Your pace may be slower - except when heading home to the food dish - but you will become a better naturalist, having been taught by an expert in the field.

Too many times we hike on automatic pilot, our goal being to complete the trail rather than enjoy the journey. We miss the details - the colorful mushrooms on the rotting log, the honeycomb in the old maple snag, the hawk feather caught on a twig.

Once we walk as a dog does, we discover a whole new world. We stop; we browse the landscape, we kick over leaves, peek in tree holes, look up, down, all around. And we learn what any dog knows: that nature has created a marvelously complex world that is full of surprises, that each cycle of the seasons bring ever changing wonders, each day an essence all its own.

Even from indoors you will find yourself more attuned to the world around you. You will find yourself watching summer insects collecting on a screen. (How bizarre they are! How many kinds there are!), or noting the flick and flash of fireflies through the dark. You will stop to observe the swirling dance of windblown leaves, or sniff the air after a rain. It does not matter that there is no objective in this; the point is in the doing, in not letting life's most important details slip by. You will find yourself doing silly things that your pet-less friends might not understand: spending thirty minutes in the grocery aisle looking for the cat food brand your feline must have, buying dog birthday treats, or driving around the block an extra time because your pet enjoys the ride.

You will roll in the snow, wrestle with chewie toys, bounce little rubber balls till your eyes cross, and even run around the house trailing your bathrobe tie - with a cat in hot pursuit - all in the name of love. Your house will become muddier and hairier. You will wear less dark clothing and buy more lint rollers. You may find dog biscuits in your pocket or purse, and feel the need to explain that an old plastic shopping bag adorns your living room rug because your cat loves the crinkly sound.

I had to say good-bye today
To the dearest friend I've known
And no one understands like me
Why my heart feels so alone
By my side to comfort me
When I wasn't at my best
You even loved me when I'd shout
Stop being such a pest

I won't forget the games we played
Or your favorite place to sleep
The hardest part will be coming home
And you not there at my feet
Everyday that precious face
Filled my world with gentle love
Now you're with the
Angels up above

(Still) it's so hard to say good-bye
Like my shadow I could
Count on you to be there
So don't mind the tears that I cry
It may take a little while to
Remember you and smile
It's the selfish part of me that wants
You right here back with me
Yes right here by my side
It's so hard to say good -bye

There will be days I know,
As I learn to let go
The rain in my heart'll feel like a river
Then like a soft gentle wind,
From the warmth of a friend
Instead of tears
I'll remember you and smile

Boxer Angels

For those Boxer Babies in the sky
Who have left our loving arms
Don't stop to ask or wonder why
Just know they're free from harm

No pain or fright confronts them now
They've left that all behind
They're embracing joy and freedom
And still live in our minds

Eyes are bright and seeing clear
Velvet skin is healed
Legs aren't stiff, and ears can hear
Our love they still can feel

Embrace their memory, hold it tight
Wipe away your tears
The Boxer joy that filled your life
Will last throughout the years

Think of them with happy thoughts
Say a thankful prayer
All those happy Boxer angels
Still know that we care

Dolly Juhlin

The Journey (continued)

You will learn the true measure of love - the steadfast, undying kind that says, "It doesn't matter where we are or what we do, or how life treats us as long as we are together." Respect this always. It is the most precious gift any living soul can give another. You will not find it often among the human race.

And you will learn humility. The look in my dog's eyes often made me feel ashamed. Such joy and love at my presence. She saw not some flawed human who could be cross and stubborn, moody or rude, but only her wonderful companion. Or maybe she saw those things and dismissed them as mere human foibles, not worth considering, and so chose to love me anyway. If you pay attention and learn well, when the journey is done, you will be not just a better person, but the person your pet always knew you to be- the one they were proud to call beloved friend.

I must caution you that this journey is not without pain. Like all paths of true love, the pain is part of loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day your dear animal companion will follow a trail you cannot yet go down. And you will have to find the strength and love to let them go.

A pet's time on earth is far too short - especially for those that love them. We borrow them, really, just for awhile, and during these brief years they are generous enough to give us all their love, every inch of their spirit and heart, until one day there is nothing left.

The cat that only yesterday was a kitten is all too soon old and frail and sleeping in the sun. The young pup of boundless energy wakes up stiff and lame, the muzzle now gray. Deep down we somehow always knew that this journey would end. We knew that if we gave our hearts they would be broken. But give them we must for it is all they ask in return. When the time comes, and the road curves ahead to a place we cannot see, we give one final gift and let them run on ahead - young and whole once more.

"Godspeed, good friend," we say, until our journey comes full circle and our paths cross again.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Author unknown... From the Boxer Group who help evaluate the situation and already sent 70+ condolences.