Booker the Farm Dog; Plus one Year, Minus one Leg

Happy 1st birthday to our most favorite farm dog Booker!!!! This guy became a part of our family in the fall of last year. He’s learned a lot, riding in the Ute with dad is his favorite activity second only to playing in the water and playing ball with the kids.

As we celebrate his birthday today we are very grateful that he actually made it to his first birthday. Unfortunately last week Booker had a run in with a vehicle. He’s doing pretty good now, but we had to make the tough decision to amputate his front left leg.

While we thought we gave him a lot of love before, the care he’s getting from these kiddos is definitely next level. If you ask me how the kids are taking it, it’s all very different. Hoot is pretty sad still, there’s a lot of adjustment and fear but he is getting through and adjusting to Booker’s new dog life more each day. Auggie woke up the first day and told me he was….”thinking about it, and I’m so excited to have a three legged dog. I’ve only ever seen them on TV!” And Millie is doing well, but only after a very long explanation about how unfortunately “no sweetie, his leg will not grow back”. After accepting that she has quickly taken to over-mothering and while the car didn’t kill him Millie’s constant taking care of him just might!

We have heard from many folks about their own three legged dog stories and what a great wonderful life they can still have. My favorite words so far were from our vet, “that’s why God gave them four legs!”

Booker is doing a lot of resting most days right now but slowly getting back into walking, and trying to run to keep up with the kids. It’s an adjustment but we know it will be a short lived one as each day he get stronger and shows us he’s still our best farm dog!