ABC Alumni Beaux at the Rainbow Bridge

Beaux, what a handsome guy!

By Laura Johnson

Meet Beaux.

Beaux left his Human and basset sister to go to the rainbow bridge yesterday.

Beaux, who was formerly Bo-Bo, was an ABC Alumni, from 2001.  He was 15.

Phil Dutcher is his human, and will always be his human. His sister, Jasmine is also left behind.

Beaux and Jasmine

I did not write this story to be morbid nor to be sad. I didn't do it to make you feel bad, or to get you to open your wallets. I did this, to show what love can do.

The average life expectancy for a basset hound is 10-12 years.  The life expectancy of a rescue dog can be considerably less, when you factor their pasts.  Beaux lived and loved his human for the majority of his years...his 15 long years.

This is a shining example of what love can do. When Phil would come home after being gone all day, there would be Beaux, with his deep bay and soulful eyes.  He used those eyes to his own full advantage to get Phil to open the cookie jar.  He would greet everyone that came to the house with the same bay and with his sister Jasmine.   Both were shameless in their quest for the belly rub.  I remember being on the floor of his office while we were working on my taxes one year, completely in heaven with Jazzy and Beaux as they competed with each other for my lap space.  I left with a completed tax return, covered in fur and slobber....and with a ridiculous smile on my face.  This experience was right after I had gotten Molly, so it was only a reaffirmation of a blooming basset obsession.

Beaux was a deep soul, and yet a simple one. His love was there for the taking, you only had to be smart enough to accept it.

The love of our rescue hounds is, what I consider, the pinnacle of pure devotion. They give themselves so completely to you...and yet maintain their sense of self.  They are unapologetic in their quest for attention and cookies.  They trot along as if there is nothing to be worried about, as long as they are with you.  When Phil was hard at work in his office, you would find Beaux under his chair.  Making like an area rug, but ready at any moment to get up and "WWWOOOOOOOO" if someone came to the door, or if Phil headed to the kitchen. (Again...cookie jar)

Then you look closer into those eyes and you see that there is a history of pain, like any other living thing on our planet.  They see and suffer like the rest of us, and when you are sad, or in need of love, they dip into that never ending well of love and give it to you until you have enough to carry on. All they ask for in return is a belly rub...and maybe a cookie.

You will be missed Sir Beaux.  Phil posted this on his Facebook page yesterday, and I think it says it all.

With sympathy and prayers to Phil, his family and Jazzy.

" Rough day today; had to say good-bye to my 15 year old Basset - Beaux. He's in doggie heaven now where there are no fences and the cookie jar is bottomless. Love ya Bubb's."