Billy Bob came to our home on November 18, 2007. He was described as a “cranky” older pug that had problems with stones. At the time he was 13 years old and had been displaced after his beloved owner was placed in a nursing home. I can’t imagine how lost and confused Billy Bob must have felt, and wondered how he would do in our home. Much to my delight, Billy Bob immediately made himself at home and acted like he had been there all his life. Time and again, I continue to be amazed at the adaptability of foster dogs, no matter how old they are!

When Billy Bob arrived in our home, we discovered that his former owner had shaved him to prevent shedding. Having a bald dog in Northern, IN during the winter was not a good idea, so I bought him his very own alpine ski vest, which he wore each and every time he went outside. It took months to get his coat back and when it did grow back, it was so soft and nearly white.

While Billy Bob wasn’t really interested in playing with the other dogs, he was always interested in being wherever the people were, especially if they were on the couch. Billy Bob loved his couch time and his alone time. Ever the independent soul, Billy Bob liked to spend time in his “apartment” -- a small alcove in our bedroom that contained his bed. If the bedroom door was closed, he would walk to the door, stand there for a moment and then return and stare at us until one of us got up and let him in. Over time we began to love all of Billy Bob’s quirks, whether he was attacking his bed every morning, barking in the morning until he got his breakfast, enjoying the sun on our deck, or randomly biting us. It took many months to get Billy Bob to not take off a finger or two when getting a treat! Billy Bob was also the one and only pug at our vet’s office that had a “red sticker” for being a biter. No matter how many times we got bit for disturbing him, trimming his nails or giving him a treat, we feel in love with him. My favorite Billy Bob biting story is on Christmas 2007. My husband bought him a Pittsburgh Pirates jersey and Billy Bob bit him when he tried to put it on him! Obviously he was still a Cincinnati Reds fan (he was originally from Cincinnati, relocated to Elkhart, IN). Nevertheless, we enjoyed having Billy Bob in our home so much that we officially adopted him in July 2008, shortly after his 14th birthday.

On July 7, 2009 Billy Bob turned 15 years old and was as feisty as ever. I was hoping that we would have a couple more years to spoil this sweet boy, but God had other plans for Billy Bob. Billy Bob started having seizures in mid-August. A trip to the vet indicated that his liver and kidney functions were normal. The vet suspected a brain tumor, but an MRI would need to be conducted to verify her suspicions. Two days after our vet visit, on August 14, 2009, Billy Bob suffered a major seizure and passed away in our home.

While I am still saddened at the loss of my friend, I am grateful for the time we had with him. I am so happy that I answered yes to the foster request in November 2007 and so happy that I got to spoil my cranky little old man for almost two years. Knowing what I know now, would I do it again? You bet! I would not miss the opportunity of having Billy Bob in my life for anything. Without KPR, Billy Bob would not have come into my life, and that would have been tragic.

God speed my friend.

Until we meet again, our love always

Juli & Ben Kruszynski and the rest of the Polish Pug Pack