Oreo

"OREO" above at 9 years, 9 months old
Click each picture for a larger view

DOB: 7/4/2001
Sire: CH Aracrest's Epic SOM, CSOM
Dam: CH Mi-T's Mahogony Doll
Breeder: Terri Pope, Mi-T Boxers
Owner: Kim Rutherford

My grandmother passed away last month, and on the day that she died, I was walking down our
country road, with Oreo and Paris, thinking about her. Suddenly a beautiful Monarch butterfly
came flitting out of the trees, and floated around above me, very unusual for this time of year,
they are not supposed to be here. It then landed on a cedar tree, where I took out my phone
and took a picture of it. I felt a peace in my heart, because I felt like the Lord sent the butterfly
to comfort me, and to let me know that my Mimi had shed her old earthly “cocoon”, and was
now in Heaven, in her glorified body, just like the metamorphosis of a butterfly. After the walk, I
didn’t mention the butterfly to anyone, since the busyness of life has a way of making us forget
about the everyday miracles that happen around us.

This morning, exactly 10 years and 3 days from when a gangly four and a half month old Boxer
puppy stepped out of his crate at the airport, the best dog friend that I have ever known, my
one and only Oreo, died peacefully in his home, where he was with the ones that he loved with
all of his mighty heart, and who loved him the same in return. My husband had to get off the job
that he was on, to come and bury him, so as well all sat around him, stroking his beautiful
brindle coat, holding his paw in my hand, and trying to seal everything about him in my mind;
his curled ear tip, the beautiful half round marking on his neck, that looked like a cookie being
dipped in milk, the softly grayed muzzle, the big paws that he loved to have dremmeled, and the
tummy that you couldn’t sit in a chair with your legs crossed without him coming up and trying to
get you to scratch with your foot. He looked like he was asleep in his favorite position. My kids,
asking if he was in Heaven, me telling them “of course..”, as I sat there, tears streaming, just
begging God in my heart to please let it be so.

Later when, I came into the kitchen, Whitney mentioned that when they had gone outside with
the dogs earlier, there was a Monarch butterfly on the ground. Cait, the walking 10 year old
nature encyclopedia, had picked it up and taken it to a tree, so it would be away from the dogs,
and commented to Whitney that it was “unusual for a butterfly to be here at this time of year,
because this is when they migrate to Mexico.” As soon as Whitney mentioned the butterfly, a
peace came over me, and I ran outside, crying, to see it, but it had already flown away. I came
back in and told my kids about the butterfly that I had seen last month, when I was so sad about
Mimi, and then today, when I was praying so hard for my Oreo to be in Heaven when we get
there, God sent another beautiful butterfly, to give me the comfort of knowing that we will see
him again.

I am still in shock that my beautiful best four legged friend is gone, but I have peace in my heart
that our beloved pets WILL be in Heaven, no matter what any theologian says to the contrary. I
think Oreo knew that today was his day to “fly” as well, because this morning, when I let him out
to potty, he walked down to the gate, when my husband was opening it to leave for work, and
he has NEVER done that in his life. My husband patted him, and sent him back up to the
house, waiting to make sure that he came back inside, before he left. Oreo had gone down
there to tell him good bye. He then came and took his place in the living room, by the couch
where I read and have coffee in the morning, while it is still quiet, before everyone else is
awake, and that is how he spent his last morning here. His body now rests between the
Magnolia and pine trees in our yard, beside Georgie and baby Angel, but his spirit is chasing
butterflies in Heaven, waiting for us to join him some day. I love you forever, my beautiful boy. ♥

Oreo came to me from Terri Pope of Mi-T Boxers,
Dallas, Oregon. His registered name is Mi-T's Double Stuff,
which is where the name Oreo evolved from. He is a double
Can. Ch. Doll Announces Veni Vidi Vici grandson, and a
double Ch. Heldenbrand's Jet Breaker great-grandson.

He is a joy to live with, and is truly the best tempered,
most easy going boxer that I've ever been around.
He is not "hyper" in the least, but will just put his head
in your lap, and look up at you with those dark chocolate
eyes when he wants attention. He takes everything in stride,
and is so accepting of new situations. I am amazed
at what a sweetheart he is.

Oreo is our first show boxer, and first AKC Champion. He finished
in style, handled by our friend, Sharon West Kang.

Seven of his eight wins were also Best of Winners,
and three Best of Breed! Oreo has added two of the coveted ABC
"Best of Winners" plaques to my collection by going BOW at the
Bluebonnet Boxer Club Specialty, July 2002, and by going BOW at the
Houston Boxer Club Specialty, March 2003!

He was trained and handled for his Canine Good Citizen certification by
my daughter, Whitney, when she was 11 years old. :o)

Oreo's heritage is based on many outstanding boxers, as his four
generation (30 dog) pedigree holds 26 Champions including 17
Sire/Dams of Merit/Legion of Merit producers. We are hoping that he
will live up to the legacy of those wonderful dogs preceding him.

::PEDIGREE::

Oreo's Champion/Pointed Get:

CH Beacon's Phoenix Rising
CH Beacon's By Way Of A Star, DOM
Beacon's American Justice (AKC ptd.)

OREO'S HEALTH TESTS:

Echocardiogram/color flow doppler, Texas A&M University, 5/29/03
Diagnosis: "Normal echocardiogram, no evidence of subaortic stenosis
was seen."Dr. Matthew Miller DVM, ACVIM (cardiology)
Associate Professor of Cardiology, TAMU.
OFA Heart # BX-CA601/22M/C-PI

24 hour Holtered on 7/25/03, 2 years 21 days old, 2 single VPCs.
Diagnosis: Currently clear of disease.
Dr. Kathryn M. Meurs, ACVIM.

24 hour Holtered on 9/09/04, 3 years, 2 months old, 1 single VPC.
Diagnosis: Currently clear of disease.
Dr. Kathryn M. Meurs, ACVIM Cardiology.

Holtered 2/17/06
DURING A RECORDING PERIOD OF 12.5 HOURS, A TOTAL OF
2 SINGLE VENTRICULAR BEATS WERE NOTED.

OFA Hips: GOOD, #BX-2943G25M-PI

Thyroid: Normal, tested 8/4/03.
Dr. Renee Smith, Lindale Veterinary Hospital, Lindale, TX---

DM DNA: Heterozygous, A/N