Boots and Coco

Well, I think the time has come for these babies to have their own page. Boots was my daughter's kitty and Coco my son's dog. However, they spent many years at my home when the kids lived at home so they were a big part of the family and I loved and miss them both dearly along with their lifemates Bo and Dusty. Both are Bridgekids just like Bo and Dusty. Coco being the last to meet the crew on August 21, 1999.

Close-up of Boots--isn't that a sweet face? And no wonder the nickname Bootsie was given to her by her mom, Tina

This is Boots in her favorite place on Tina's bed

You can see the resemblance here to her son Bo. Boots was gray and white but there markings were almost identical except for Bootsie's "got milk?" mouth!

The above picture is somewhat of a family classic. Caught just at the right moment by my daughter it tells the story of the closeness of mother and son. What do they say, a picture paints a thousand word?

I guess you could say mother and son grew up together. I recall their happy days running up and down the stairs of our two story farm house in New York, grooming each other and sharing just about everything. Boots was the shy, quiet one though looking to my daughter for most of her attention. Like the quiet Princess, in fact she almost looked regal. She was a petite lady and had the daintiest little meow. In 1992 Tina and Boots moved up north and left my home with only my one kitty who missed his kitty mom so much. Boots came back from time to time for visits home with my daughter and I in turn would visit and of course she never forgot her human "grandma". Sometimes she would come in to sleep with me during my stays.

This little kitty is carrying the candle that will always shine in our hearts as we remember Boots and the life shared with her. Boots became ill in March 1994 with diabetes and then complications that set in. Boots was the first to make her way to Rainbow Bridge on September 7, 1994.

Boots and Bo were not the only ones in the house! They both shared a big part of their lives with two doggy buddies, Dusty and Coco. For the most part, they all got along so well. I think the only thing that comes to my attention is the fact that Boots didn't like it when Coco would come into her room and put his big paws up on "her" bed! She would promptly hiss in his face. Coco was a little on the hyper side so he would just come barreling in there, I think if he would have treaded a little more gently he would have been fine. It was always such a joy to see them playing together, sleeping together, etc. Oh, and the one other thing - how could I forget! - was that NO ONE could go near Dusty's food.

My son got Coco in September of 1988 at a local pet store. I will never forget the day we picked him up. He was so little he fit in this tiny cardboard box with a handle. He was the cutest little ball of brown fur! Coco was probably just a few months old in this picture above.

Well, I bet you can guess why I'm putting this here! Yep, like all puppies Coco did his share of chewing from shoes to the woodwork in my son's room. We had a small area of the bedroom sectioned off for Coco to try to keep him at bay. It was no time before he figured how to get out of that though. Coco was very hyper, always busy going and doing something. But soon he grew to be a handsome boy. He slept with my son and was a very loyal to him. The day came when Coco was entered in Obedience School and he did so well. He was so well behaved and just seemed so happy to please Bill with everything he did. When time came for graduation, up until the last manuever Coco was first. He ended up coming in 2nd place but was always 1st with us. He looked so cute in his graduation hat!

This is Coco with his buddy Dusty, my other Bridgegirl

These are the Coco Graduation pictures from Obedience School. What a proud boy he was and we were too! He came within a point of being the first in his class but thats okay--we took home the prize. Hat designed for Coco by my daughter, Tina.

Getting together the Marshall's Posse....calling all Deputies!!!

Doesn't that beat em all ---now who knows another doggy who graduated straight from Obedience School to being a Deputy in the Marshall's Posse! Just switched hats, I'd say! Ride on over and visit Coco at his new post by clicking above and going to page 7.

This is a formal picture (as formal as you can get in the woods) that my daughter took of Coco.

This is Coco getting one of his toys from Bo's wicker chair!

This was one of Coco's favorite positions scratching his back. Coco loved to play ALL the time and sometimes drove us crazy fetching and bringing his toys back and forth for us to play with him. And if you didn't he would sit there with those big brown eyes of his until you did. If one of his toys went behind or under something you would think his world was going to end with the way he would carry on. He would bark until you got it for him or worse yet run around the house panting if he couldn't find it. Coco got along well with the others and loved to be outside. He had this thing about the dog house though, instead of getting in it, he would get under it!! We always had it up on bricks to keep it off the ground and you could see Coco peering out from under it. Coco left my home in 1993 to live with my son and new family. Even though I visited him frequently, his precense was always missed my myself and Bo. Coco was hit by a hit and run driver about a year or so ago which left him with severe arthritis.

This flame burns for Coco who brought joy and love into our lives for eleven years. On August 21, 1999, Coco joined his old friends Bo, Dusty and Boots at Rainbow Bridge. I know they were all there to greet him! Coco became ill in the past week, not eating and becoming thin and weak. The vet thought it was cancer or kidney failure and the kindest thing to do was let him go.

These little footprints are in honor of all the doggies and kitties that walk through our lives. May we love them and cherish the time we are given to spend with them.