Boone was welcomed into the loving embrace of L.E.A.R.N. and into our hearts on a warm spring evening in March.  For exactly one month he graced our world with his gentle presence before we sadly said goodbye on Easter Monday, 2003. 

Boone had an extraordinary spirit and was so good-natured.  The details of his life before L.E.A.R.N. are few and will remain a mystery.  A good Samaritan spotted him on the streets of Chicago, and her $2 bought his short but sweet lease on life from a stranger who said he had to get rid of the dog because his owner had been put in a nursing home. 

Despite his physical challenges Boone had an immense capacity to love.  He was a pure pleasure to care for, and he so perfectly assimilated into our hearts and our home it felt as if he had been with us forever.  In the end Boone was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and although his body failed him, his spirit did not.  It is our greatest hope that we provided him the happiest days of his life in the month we knew him.  We loved him so and we used every opportunity to express that to him.  His reaction to us is comfort enough.  He knew…he knew how we loved him.  

Sincere thanks to the wonderful volunteers from L.E.A.R.N. who helped make Boone’s last days with us possible.  In addition, our deep gratitude goes to Dr. Barb Rossi, DVM for her compassionate and loving care of Boone.  For her support of us as we arrived at the painful diagnosis of his disease, and for assisting us in our final act of compassion and love for his sake.

The Kohlers

April 2003

…Grieve not,
            nor speak of me with tears,
but laugh and talk of me as if I were beside you…

 I loved you so-
            ’twas Heaven here with you
- Isla Paschal Richardson