bogey

Bogey was a ham with a million dollar smile. In each pictures, he seemed to pose for the camera. Even on occasion, he would smile for the camera. This was a smile that could light up a room.

He loved everything. However, he really loved:

• Mary Ann
  
• His girlfriend, Sandy
  
• His basket ball
  
• His treats

He touched many lives in his short time. He will continue to change the lives of others with his foundation.

His life was not easy. At an early age he had to be given up for adoption. He moved into Mary Ann’s life and was adored. Mary was taken from us in 2004 by Cancer, again Bogey was settling into a new home. Mary’s son adopted Bogey. After a shaky start, the two become inseparable.

In his new home Bogey was introduced to his girlfriend, Sandy. Sandy was a terrier mix with eyes that pierced him. It was love at first site. Sandy was three times his size but that was OK. He was in love. Sandy was taken from him, again by Cancer. He was devastated. He would wait by the door for her return. It seemed he would never again be the same.

In late 2009 we began to notice a change in Bogey. His walking became labored. His front half would lay down while his back half would remain standing. He began to deteriorate. It came to the point where he could not stand. He became catatonic. He couldn’t even lift his head.

We took Bogey to the Vet. They couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him. After an x-ray they found that he had kidney stone’s and would need risky surgery to remove them. We were directed to an emergency room that could handle such a procedure. There we learned that kidney stones were common in the Shih Tzu breed. This wasn’t the cause of his illness. However; this was the turning point for us. At the emergency room we were presented with a “menu” of what they could do. First, a chest x-ray was $150.00. Next, they offered a spinal tap to test the fluid for $900.00. Last, there was a CT scan for $1000.00. Our love for Bogey now came down to dollars and cents. We ordered the heart x-ray. This came back as fine. Next, the spinal tap. Again, this showed no problem. The Vet gave him steroids over night as a treatment. The next day we went to pick him up. To our amazement, he walked out. A $1700.00 dollars later, he was walking. We felt that it was money well spent. He snapped out of what ever was bringing him down.

Again, Bogey began to decline. He was on arthritis medication as well as thyroid pills. One day he seemed to improve and the next he seemed to decline. After months of up’s and down’s he received an antibiotic shot that seem to help. After a few shots, they also seemed to quit working. Know one could figure out what was going on. Blood test after blood test came back with no new discovery.

Bogey left us on a Wednesday. It seems he wanted to go outside just one more time. He seemed to know what was coming and didn’t want to be around us when it happened. No one could help him in life it seems fitting that he could help others after death.

Now he asks for your help. Help him save others. In his name we created The Bogey Foundation. We were fortunate enough to have the means to try and save Bogey’s life. Others do not have the means. In these economic times owners do not have the money for a life saving procedure. It is cheaper to put the pet down than it is for a life saving procedure.

So, why the Bogey Fund? We hope to expand the charity to help all pets in need. We call this continuing project The Bogey Fund.