Brogan Staley

REST IN PEACE OUR BEAUTIFUL BOY (2004?-14.1.2020)

A devastated Ian told us “Our beautiful Brogan crossed the Rainbow Bridge today at 15:40”. He was an elderly gentleman and it was his time but that doesn’t make his loss any easier for Ian and Lis who totally adored him. Thankyou to them for taking on a middle aged dog and giving him a wonderful, exciting long and very happy life.

IAN FONDLY REMEMBERS BROGAN

Brogan came into our lives after two other people brought him back. We could never understand that as he was loved by everyone that met him.

He was such a lively dog, full of energy and he was an escape artist, so much so my neighbours christened him Houdini but we always knew where to go, to the school nearby. He had an affinity with kids, just loving the petting he got from them through the fence. He became an international traveller. My wife is Dutch so, whenever we went to Holland, he came with us.

Brogan loved the front garden. We have a large Ash tree there and, in the Summer, he would spend hours outside on his strip of (artificial) grass which was next to the fence and enabled him to greet anyone and any dog that passed by.

He was very vocal with everyone, not barking but a sort of grunting and howling of very low key and volume. At first, his behaviour to other dogs appeared to be aggressive but no it was just his way of wanting to play. Once that was sorted with the other dog walkers, we let them get together to, you got it, play.

In the last 12 months we could see his age catching up with him, he didn’t run as fast, walk as fast but sniffing; well, every blade of grass, that didn’t change.

Brogan, from the start, became our missing child and in a way took their place. But, as time ticked by his health began to suffer, we started to find lumps (growths). Fat lumps started to appear over his body and we needed to be reassured by the Vet that it was normal. It never felt normal to me so we would have them tested every few months or so, just to be sure. For our Bogan money was never a problem.

But, in the end, as it always does, time catches up with us all. He began to poop in the house overnight, he would chase cats in his sleep as all dogs do but it was when he relaxed in sleep he would do a little poop. Not every day but most of them. Cleaning them up wasn’t a problem, a quick wipe with a disinfectant cloth and everything was fine.

Very recently, my wife Lis and I went to Australia for 3 weeks, Brogan was taken by my daughter during the time. She was happy to have him as were her children and her two dogs and four cats, they never bothered him. But, when we got back, we noticed that he was just lying down, Craig had been carrying him outside to do his business, He said he had fallen down the small set of steps at the front of the house and had hurt his rear leg. I think that this was the last straw for him, he was 15yrs old after all.

We tried everything to get him to stand up but, no matter what we did, he would just fall over. So, like all good parents, we called the doctor in. The result was for us to say goodbye to our friend, companion and, dare I say it, the oldest member of our family. After all, 15 equates to well over a hundred in our terms.

Just looking into his eyes, we knew he was at his end and what we were doing was undignified to him. Hard as it always is we had to call in the vet. He wasn’t afraid as I made sure I was holding him while the vet did her job. He was gone to cross the Rainbow Bridge in less than 2 minutes.

I am not religious in any way but, should there be an afterlife, I hope that all my dogs, Bizzy, Demij and Brogan will be there playing for the rest of time. Will we have another dog? maybe but, right now, we are grieving too much at our loss and we don’t want to have to do this again as, for me it is just like I have been asked to turn off life support for my child. Brogan wasn’t just a dog, he was as precious to us as our own kids and grandkids.

There's a large empty space as I lay in my bed
 There are tears on my pillow, thoughts of you in my head
 Always together, with everything shared
 How perfect it was when we found ourselves paired

 Two sides of a penny, two halves of a coin
Friends share my pain and, in sorrow, we join
 With your eyes growing dim and your limbs getting weak
 Time running out, dreading words I'd soon speak

Brogan, as always, you knew what was best
 You told us, quite clearly, you needed your rest
 You knew letting go would be so hard for me
Thank you for showing the way it must be

 One day, I'll feel better – more good days than bad
 Remembering the hugs and the cuddles we had
 Recalling the walks, all the fun and the joy
 "God bless, bye for now, see you soon darling boy"

HISTORY

In 2011, Brogan was found as a stray and taken into the Pound. His age was thought to be possibly as much as 8-9 years old but, after getting to know him, he was more likely to be about 7yrs.

FOSTERER’S INITIAL REPORT – IRELAND: OCTOBER 2011

Brogan’s coat was totally matted and needed to be clipped right back to the skin. He seems to have a very gentle nature, is good on the lead and is a good traveller in the car.

FOSTERER’S REPORT – UK: February 2012

Brogan has been with us since November last year. He is a strong boy and is very excitable when he sees other dogs and will pull like mad to get to meet them but, once he’s met them, he will happily walk without pulling. He loves to meet people even if they don’t have a dog with them.

Brogan is not good with cats at all; my three cats will not come out of the kitchen as Brogan will chase them.

He is a gem at meal times as he will sit and wait until he is told he can eat.

He craves contact when he is lying on the floor near you with his paw always touching your leg.

Brogan likes to roll on the grass and has taken to jumping the patio gate to roll in the mud. He is lovely, even though I’ve just got him off the lawn covered in mud and it’s too cold to bath him.

GREAT NEWS MARCH 2012

Brogan went to his Forever Home