Spencer 2007 - 2009

With tears in my eyes I write this post tonight. We just learned a bit ago that one of Sophie's boys passed away yesterday. I posted about him and his brothers a while back. He's the one that I didn't think was going to make it when he was born. But his Mama licked him when he wasn't breathing and made things better. He played with his brothers, ate with them and quickly went from the runt to one of the biggest and strongest puppies.

After we ran an ad in the local paper we received a call from a sweet girl that lived close by. She wanted a boxer so badly but her husband was afraid they couldn't come up with the amount of money we were asking. She came to the house and quickly fell in love with the little white puppy with the brindle eyes. She wanted him so bad. We knew she would make a fantastic mommy for him so Joe and I decided to reduce the price to what they could afford. You see, it was more important to us to find good homes for the pups, not to make money. That was never our goal when Sophie was bred.

That evening Joe called Sarah (that was her name) on her cellphone. Someone else answered and beckoned to Sarah that it came up as "Boxer Joe." That was how she had Joe's number saved. She was actually getting dressed to be in a wedding but quickly answered the phone. Joe told her that the puppy was hers. She was so excited she just about peed all over herself.

They came to get him when he was ready. They live close to us (about 5 miles away) and he quickly made himself at home. He was loved and taken care of which meant the world to us. Sarah soon became pregnant and had a son. Her son and Spencer became fast friends. He would say "doggy, doggy" every morning. Sarah would get 2 biscuits and her son would feed them to Spencer. He was so very gentle to take the biscuits. You see, that is what boxers do. They are so great with children. Spencer had the ideal home. He was able to wander and hunt and play. Then come home to his family that loved him. We saw him several times, whether it was passing by and seeing him in the backyard or stopping to say hello.

Joe got a phone call tonight from Sarah. Spencer died yesterday. They think he got ahold of some plastic and ate it. He had been a bit sick for a couple of days but nothing they thought was serious. Before Spencer's daddy had a chance to get home after Sarah called he was gone. The family is devastated. They are lost. Those were Sarah's exact words.

Spencer's daddy was crying the entire time he dug the grave. They buried him wrapped in his favorite sheet he slept on every night. They put his favorite treat, Cheetoes, with him and his baby brother gave his daddy a stuffed animal to bury with him.

That is the third pup of Sophie's that had died. Roger was put down at 6 weeks because he was sick. Riley died from heat stroke last summer and now Spencer. I just don't know what else to say.

Sweet Spencer......Rest In Peace.