Rufus has passed away

Posted Thursday, October 22, 2009, at 10:14 AM

Rufus, gone but not forgotten

Joe McCurry just called me to let me know that Rufus, the boxer who got away from a boarding kennel and was shot, died this morning due to an infection.

There are so many people we want to blame -- those who were supposed to keep the dog safe for its owners and those who shot the animal and left it to die .... If he had been found sooner, perhaps the infection could have been prevented, but if he had never gotten away, he would nothave been shot

But all the blame in the world will not bring Rufus back to his loving family. My thoughts and prayers are with the McCurrys and the Halls.

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That's awful! He's such a beautiful dog!

-- Posted by candasons07 on Thu, Oct 22, 2009, at 10:48 AM

I'm so sorry to read about this. My thoughts and prayers go out to the McCurry's. What a terrible way to lose a family member.

-- Posted by cherylrichardson on Thu, Oct 22, 2009, at 10:54 AM

I am so, so sorry for your loss. I know how a dog or cat can be a family member. They way he was lost was awful.

I hope the person that shot and left him is found and charged!!

-- Posted by nomountainman on Thu, Oct 22, 2009, at 12:03 PM

Not much more can be said Joe except to add our condolences. It does not really take away any of the pain, but your loss is shared with a caring community.

If the person responsible is never caught, at least I hope they are aware of the pain they have caused and feel the shame and remorse of their action.

-- Posted by stevemills on Thu, Oct 22, 2009, at 12:20 PM

At least,he got to be with his family at the last and they know of his death and that he was cared for at the end.

Think of the animals who may get "popped one to teach 'em a lesson" but never see a vet (or those they love) afterwards.

Think of all the other injuries they may suffer (or inflict) while at large.

Rufus was intelligent,beautiful,good-natured and loved.

He had a devoted family and medical care.

Even though the boarding incident went awry with a terrible outcome,it was one more example of how Rufus' welfare was valued while he lived.

There are animals without names,faces,love or hope who face a dearth of compassion and the harshness of fate and nature every day.

There are owned animals whose fates are never publicized.

We can mourn the loss of a fine animal friend but let this unfortunate event make us mindful of all the beautiful lives distorted and ended by tragedies that never make the paper.

We can honor his life by being better stewards of the beasts who share our world and,perhaps,adopting or sponsoring some of the creatures who would never know affection or safety otherwise.

(A little awareness of how to handle guns would not be amiss,either.

One doesn't shoot unless willing to kill and one doesn't fire without locating the body of the being one has slain.)

It's regrettable if it took Rufus' suffering to get such improvements accomplished.

It would be worse if he went through everything he did and nothing changed for the better at all.

-- Posted by quantumcat on Thu, Oct 22, 2009, at 12:57 PM

I cried when I read this I don't know the family or the dog but I am very sorry. My dogs are like my children and I know nothing can help at this point. It is unforgiveable that he escaped from the facility. It is unforgiveable that someone shot him and I hope what goes around comes around. Such a sad ending.

-- Posted by Thatsmystory on Thu, Oct 22, 2009, at 1:40 PM

RUFUS WILL BE GREATLY MISSEDBY HIS FAMILY AND THOSE WHO KNEW HIM ,HE WAS A GOOD DOG.A FRIENDLY DOG.HE MIGHT HAVE HAD A VICIOUS LOOK TO HIM BUT THE ONLY DANGER YOU WERE IN WAS TO BE LOVED.JOE AND SUSAN HAVE HAD SOME NEAT PETS THEIR BELOVED MAC WHO DIEDA FEW YEARS BACK AND A LITTLE WHITE DOG NAMED T.K. THEY CHERISHED ALL THESE PETS LIKE FAMILY.ALL THOUGH EACH ONE HAS THEIR OWN PLACEAND CANNOT BE REPLACED WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT THE PATTER OF FOUR LITTLE FEET WILL BE HEARD IN THE MCCURRY HOUSEHOLD AGAIN. LOVE YOU JOE@ SUSAN

-- Posted by nanax5 on Thu, Oct 22, 2009, at 9:03 PM

My heart breaks for the McCurry family. Rufus looks like a sweet baby.

For many of us, losing our four legged babies is an immense loss so I extend my deepest sympathies.

-- Posted by gottago on Thu, Oct 22, 2009, at 10:10 PM

oh I am so sorry. I hate that. To have your pet supposedly safe and then get shot and killed. I would just be devestated.

I have had several of my pets end up dead due to foul means from others and I know it hurts deeply.

I am praying for this family. Please accept my deepest love for you and your family.

-- Posted by 4fabfelines on Fri, Oct 23, 2009, at 6:04 AM

So sad to hear this! I know when I lost my favorite dog it felt like my best friend had died also. It is amazing how attached we can become to these animals and how much joy and happiness they can bring to our lives.

-- Posted by jaxspike on Fri, Oct 23, 2009, at 7:44 AM

My prayers go out to the McCurry family. My animals are too my children and the happiness they give is unexplainable to some. God Bless!

-- Posted by m.sanders on Fri, Oct 23, 2009, at 8:09 AM

That is so awful! He's so cute.

-- Posted by cfrich on Mon, Oct 26, 2009, at 1:40 PM