Bosco
A donation was made in memory of Bosco by Drs. Molton, Batdorf, Stidham, Hamack and Meyer at Vista Veterinary Hospital on Nov 23, 2016.
This was something I wrote, shortly after our goodbye's... its just a small glimpse into the bond I had with my partner. He was the best Police K9 I ever worked!
Dear Bosco, Today I sit here and stare at your empty Kennel and think, “that’s what my heart looks like. The big kennel with all of the holes in it…” yep, pretty much how my heart feels. I also think about how I can never look at a Kong again without a smile and wondering if you’re going to attack it.
I think back to August 2009 when I went to Von Grunheide shepherds and I was told to find the best dog… I tried several and fell in love with you! You had all the attitude that I had and you wanted to take on the world and you were willing to take me for a ride with you!
Oh what a ride it was! You had to be tough because your certified name was Bono… We couldn’t have a name that people laughed at, so we called you Bosco. Julie said you acted like Boscorelli from 3rd Watch, “cocky and ready for anyone to try to mess with him or his family”!
September 07, 2009 was the official first day on the job for you! You were confident and I was nervous. November 12, 2009 we made it through the training and now we could work the road.
You would always get wide eyed when I came out of the house to get into the patrol car… you’d bark and whimper as though reminding me that you were ready to go… And off we’d go! We would get to the call and you were punching the door with your nose to make sure I didn’t leave you behind. You’d puff your chest up as I put on your harness and when you noticed Officers were geared up and ready, you grew even bigger because you knew, you got to lead the charge into the night and you had backup!
No matter what, I trusted you. I followed you into building where the bad guy was hiding. I was armed with my flashlight to see, while you had a nose that was able to detect where the bad guy was! You would drag me through a corn field to grab the guys who just broke into someone’s home or just fled the Police and were trying to evade arrest. You had no problem waking up at 130 am to run, after a full 12 hr shift and the knowledge that another one was going to start again at 0600…. I have to admit… I loved it too! Julie would get up and kiss us both goodbye and say to you “go get ‘em big guy” and she would finish with “take care of Daddy Bosco!” and you’d puff up and run to the car as though she was your wife rooting for you. She was always good at being our cheerleader, but you didn’t need one. I always knew you’d make sure that we all got to come home. Thank you!
Thank you for taking the watch at the house when I would leave home and you and the family were there alone… I remember the time a well-known bad guy came to the house and tried to kick in the door… OOPS! He realized his mistake when you looked through the window at him. You saved his life that night! Thank you for the years of dedicated service that you gave to the communities of Prosser. Grandview, Sunnyside, Yakima County, Benton County, Richland, DOC, Washington State Patrol. You found drugs in numerous places and communities to include Prosser School District and Grandview School Districts. You got sick in December 2013 and we took you to Vista Vet in Kennewick and eventually WSU. You were diagnosed with Liver Disease. You wouldn’t give up and fought a valiant fight, like you’ve always done. There were ups and downs, scares and close calls, but you never gave up!
You were forced into retirement on December 31, 2014. Oh boy, that’s like giving a kid candy and telling them to go to bed…you threw a tantrum! But, you grew to enjoy that you could hang out at home and be a dog. You still would lay with your Kong and you grew to enjoy mowing the lawn, playing in the sprinkler and laying in the shade, under the willow.
Yesterday (08-19-16) you showed us that you were sick again. Julie and I have noticed that you were slowing and leaving your Kong (which is something never to be left). Yesterday, you tried to help me mow the lawn, and just couldn’t keep up. You came to me and showed me in your beautiful eyes that you were in pain! I knew that we needed to go to the Vet. I also knew that there was a tough decision to be made, if the Liver Disease or the Bladder stones are back.
Yep, they’re back…. I’m sorry!
So here we are. I am petting your beautiful head and noticing the grey beginning in your muzzle, I am noticing that you still have the beautiful “retro Shepherd” coloring that I was attracted to in the beginning. I saw that your spark was fading from your eyes; I noticed that you were worried about Momma (Julie) as you saw her tears falling, as the Vet explained that our worst fears have come to pass. You went to her and hugged her and showed her with those big eyes of yours that you’re ok with the decision.
You came to me and nuzzled the tears from my eyes as I held you and prayed for more time. You looked me square in the eyes, pressed your nose to my cheek and gave me a “Bosco Kiss”. You put me at ease. I knew you hurt. I promised that I would do all I could to save you… It’s the least I could do for those times that we both know, you saved my life. But, this fight was beyond me. I’m sorry I had to let you go! Please forgive me!
Bosco, you were the best partner an Officer could ask for! You can go, run free and fast without pain. You can chase all the Kongs Heaven has to offer! God is lucky to have you protecting the gates of Heaven, I know I was lucky to have you protect my life, my family’s life and the lives of our community. Go be a sheep dog and watch over a new flock. But, be sure to wait for me… I may need someone to drag me through the gates of heaven… We’ve already run the gates of hell!
I Love you, Miss you and will ALWAYS hold you close to my heart! Your partner, Shane
Dear Bosco, Today I sit here and stare at your empty Kennel and think, “that’s what my heart looks like. The big kennel with all of the holes in it…” yep, pretty much how my heart feels. I also think about how I can never look at a Kong again without a smile and wondering if you’re going to attack it.
I think back to August 2009 when I went to Von Grunheide shepherds and I was told to find the best dog… I tried several and fell in love with you! You had all the attitude that I had and you wanted to take on the world and you were willing to take me for a ride with you!
Oh what a ride it was! You had to be tough because your certified name was Bono… We couldn’t have a name that people laughed at, so we called you Bosco. Julie said you acted like Boscorelli from 3rd Watch, “cocky and ready for anyone to try to mess with him or his family”!
September 07, 2009 was the official first day on the job for you! You were confident and I was nervous. November 12, 2009 we made it through the training and now we could work the road.
You would always get wide eyed when I came out of the house to get into the patrol car… you’d bark and whimper as though reminding me that you were ready to go… And off we’d go! We would get to the call and you were punching the door with your nose to make sure I didn’t leave you behind. You’d puff your chest up as I put on your harness and when you noticed Officers were geared up and ready, you grew even bigger because you knew, you got to lead the charge into the night and you had backup!
No matter what, I trusted you. I followed you into building where the bad guy was hiding. I was armed with my flashlight to see, while you had a nose that was able to detect where the bad guy was! You would drag me through a corn field to grab the guys who just broke into someone’s home or just fled the Police and were trying to evade arrest. You had no problem waking up at 130 am to run, after a full 12 hr shift and the knowledge that another one was going to start again at 0600…. I have to admit… I loved it too! Julie would get up and kiss us both goodbye and say to you “go get ‘em big guy” and she would finish with “take care of Daddy Bosco!” and you’d puff up and run to the car as though she was your wife rooting for you. She was always good at being our cheerleader, but you didn’t need one. I always knew you’d make sure that we all got to come home. Thank you!
Thank you for taking the watch at the house when I would leave home and you and the family were there alone… I remember the time a well-known bad guy came to the house and tried to kick in the door… OOPS! He realized his mistake when you looked through the window at him. You saved his life that night! Thank you for the years of dedicated service that you gave to the communities of Prosser. Grandview, Sunnyside, Yakima County, Benton County, Richland, DOC, Washington State Patrol. You found drugs in numerous places and communities to include Prosser School District and Grandview School Districts. You got sick in December 2013 and we took you to Vista Vet in Kennewick and eventually WSU. You were diagnosed with Liver Disease. You wouldn’t give up and fought a valiant fight, like you’ve always done. There were ups and downs, scares and close calls, but you never gave up!
You were forced into retirement on December 31, 2014. Oh boy, that’s like giving a kid candy and telling them to go to bed…you threw a tantrum! But, you grew to enjoy that you could hang out at home and be a dog. You still would lay with your Kong and you grew to enjoy mowing the lawn, playing in the sprinkler and laying in the shade, under the willow.
Yesterday (08-19-16) you showed us that you were sick again. Julie and I have noticed that you were slowing and leaving your Kong (which is something never to be left). Yesterday, you tried to help me mow the lawn, and just couldn’t keep up. You came to me and showed me in your beautiful eyes that you were in pain! I knew that we needed to go to the Vet. I also knew that there was a tough decision to be made, if the Liver Disease or the Bladder stones are back.
Yep, they’re back…. I’m sorry!
So here we are. I am petting your beautiful head and noticing the grey beginning in your muzzle, I am noticing that you still have the beautiful “retro Shepherd” coloring that I was attracted to in the beginning. I saw that your spark was fading from your eyes; I noticed that you were worried about Momma (Julie) as you saw her tears falling, as the Vet explained that our worst fears have come to pass. You went to her and hugged her and showed her with those big eyes of yours that you’re ok with the decision.
You came to me and nuzzled the tears from my eyes as I held you and prayed for more time. You looked me square in the eyes, pressed your nose to my cheek and gave me a “Bosco Kiss”. You put me at ease. I knew you hurt. I promised that I would do all I could to save you… It’s the least I could do for those times that we both know, you saved my life. But, this fight was beyond me. I’m sorry I had to let you go! Please forgive me!
Bosco, you were the best partner an Officer could ask for! You can go, run free and fast without pain. You can chase all the Kongs Heaven has to offer! God is lucky to have you protecting the gates of Heaven, I know I was lucky to have you protect my life, my family’s life and the lives of our community. Go be a sheep dog and watch over a new flock. But, be sure to wait for me… I may need someone to drag me through the gates of heaven… We’ve already run the gates of hell!
I Love you, Miss you and will ALWAYS hold you close to my heart! Your partner, Shane
