And it breaks my heart to write this, even though it’s been six weeks since we last saw him. Both pups have crossed the rainbow bridge and I just know they’re chasing each other and Bug is probably jumping on Luna’s head.

Bogey arrived on February 17, 2003. He was twelve weeks old and weighed just 3.5 pounds. We picked him up at the airport where he was coming from Kansas via Texas. Of course, he missed his connection and was over an hour late. When we got him into the skyway, we pulled him out of his kennel and I placed him inside my blue north face jacket. He was terrified, but settled down quickly when he realized how cold it was outside and how warm it was in the jacket. Once at home we set him on the hard wood floor and all four legs quickly slid out, until he was on his belly. He was so little he could only but his front paws on the bottom step. We carried him, we cuddled him, we loved him, for over eleven years.

Not a day went by that I didn’t kiss his little “kiss spot”, the white spot on his head. His kindness will never be forgotten. And at night, when I lie in bed, I can still imagine that he’s curled up against me beneath the covers.

Marc held him as we said goodbye. I held his paw. Nibbler watched from the window. I think losing a second dog so quickly was hardest on her. It was peaceful. It was beautiful. It was so fast. But finally, his poor little body was calm for the first time in days. His panting subsided. His spasming back relaxed. His eyes closed. His breathing slowed. And then his heart stopped.

We wept. The vet took him away. But we kept the memories. The love he had for us. The love we had for him.

Rest in peace, little man. We love you.