Tuesday morning began like any other morning. I got up and showered while Sweet Husband got his clothes ready for work. I had begun to put my makeup on when Sweet Husband scooped our Miniature Dachshund, Bosco (also affectionately called "Biscuit" by Sweet Husband and "Boskee" by our youngest son, Drew), off of our bed to put him outside to do his morning duties.
It was only a couple of minutes later that we heard a knock on the back door. Sweet Husband opened the door to find a neighbor cradling Bosco in her arms and bearing the frightening news that he had been attacked by a stray dog. She placed him in Sweet Husband's arms as he stepped outside. I raced out to find Sweet Husband cradling our sweet friend of 15 years as he struggled to breathe.
The viciousness of his attacker was unprovoked and unwarranted. In fact, the lady who brought Bosco to us after he had been attacked told us that the stray dog did not even take the time to sniff Bosco..."he just went after him."
I will spare you all the details, as they are not what you would necessarily want to have in your mind. Suffice it to say, we had known for awhile that Bosco's life was in its sunset...but, we never dreamed his little life would end this way.
He was a quirky little fellow from the day we brought him home. His ears never lay as dachshund ears are supposed to...softly on each side of the head. No, Bosco's ears stood straight out...just like a little bat. They never ceased to be a quality that endeared him to everyone he met.
Bosco loved to burrow beneath blankets. It could be the end of July, high noon with no air conditioning and Bosco, if sitting on the floor, would be shivering. Being nestled in a blanket was his first choice...and if a blanket wasn't available, hopefully there would be a pool of sun streaming through a window. That would work just fine, too.
While he was always a little skittish about approaching people when called, the quickest way to his heart was to let him light in your lap. He was a true lap-dog. His two favorite laps in our family were Josh's and Drew's. It was special time, indeed, for Bosco when either of them ventured home for a visit.
Bosco loved to play. He would get so excited that he would run in a circle as fast as he could...then spread his little 4" front legs out waiting to see which direction to run next...and whichever way you would step, he would race in a circle out of sheer delight to be playing with you.
Although he had to endure a lot of licking from him, Bosco loved his compadre, Jonah, our yellow Labrador Retriever. Typically, Jonah was the alpha dog. However, there were times that Bosco knew he could assert himself over Jonah and not get chastised. Jonah would be stretched out on the floor and Bosco would wallow all over him...dig in Jonah's ears with his nose...jump and rub all up and down Jonah's body...swab his face on Jonah's coat. It was the funniest thing to watch. Bosco obviously loved those times. Jonah tolerated them...because they were buds.
Bosco was pretty much the neighborhood mascot. He owned the street as if it were his dominion. Superman may have had the ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound...but, Bosco had the ability to stop a car dead in its tracks. He would strut down the street, ears straight out, and should a car need to pass he might move to the side and he might not. The driver never failed to lower the window and greet the little guy. He might acknowledge their presence...if there wasn't more pressing business...like chasing a kid on a bicycle. He never understood why those contraptions were allowed on his street.
Everyone is feeling Bosco's absence. Word traveled quickly through the neighborhood about Bosco's death. Neighbors have called...stopped us on the street...come to our house...to offer their condolences. He was a little dog with a large presence.
The way Bosco died was a stark reminder of the fallen state of God's creation. The effects of sin permeate through all of creation...the plant kingdom, the animal kingdom...there is no aspect of creation that is not broken and decaying because of sin.
Romans 8: 19-22 tells us, "For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now."
Ever since Tuesday I've been thinking about "that day"...when creation will be set free and the effects of sin will be no more. Isaiah 11: 6 says, "The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them."
Sweet Husband and I are looking forward to that day.
But, for now, our house is a little quieter. Bosco isn't barking at phantom noises....and his little nails are no longer clicking on our floors, nor are they scratching at the back door. Our bed is a little roomier...and our laps are vacant.
His little 9 lb. body didn't really take up very much room. But, over 15 years he had built quite the residence in our hearts.
We surely do miss our little Bosco-buddy!!
I wish I could have met him!! Thanks for posting!
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