It is with deep sadness but also profound gratitude that, on May 31, 2011, we said goodbye to Borg the dog, our faithful canine companion since May 21, 1996. Borg turned 16 in January 2011 and exuded his zest for life (and food) until the very end, despite losing vision in his left eye, having a slipped disc in his back, and experiencing Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (doggie Alzheimer’s) since November. In the 15 plus years that we shared our lives with Borg, he contributed significantly to our family and to our well-being; it was especially beautiful to watch the relationship that he and Bailey developed over the past few months, once Bailey stopped pulling Borg’s tail and realized he had a best friend (“my brother”) living among us. Our mourning process will be difficult but we are comforted by the fact that no matter how much pain we experience over the next few weeks and months, it will pale in comparison to the copious amounts of pleasure and joy that Borg created. As many of you know, Borg was a crazy, loving, gentle, passionate being who lived his life to the fullest and immersed himself in every moment. Probably several years from now, when Bailey is older, we will get him his own dog -- currently, he says he wants a “black doggie and name him Bailey.” As you might imagine, we did not sugar-coat this death for Bailey and he realizes fully that Borg is not on a “farm.” But one thing we do know for certain is that whatever pleasure that future black dog may bring into our lives, Borg deserves credit for that too. When we drove him to the vet today, we poured all his remaining food into the backseat and let him have at it, so we can be sure he died happy (and “full” for maybe the only time in his life). Though he did say to us, “thanks for everything—I’ve had an amazing life with you, from Montreal to Tucson to San Diego to Durango and with 4 trips across North America—but the portions were small” (he didn’t actually say that, but after 15 years, we pretty much know what he was thinking). When he got to the vet, instead of his usual nervous pacing, he lay right down in Leslie's lap as if to communicate that he was ready, and his death was peaceful and dignified.

If you would like to honor Borg’s memory, you can make an online donation to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, an organization that helps animal companions to bring love into other people’s lives, by clicking here.

Borg had been an important part of our family for the past 15 years and his legacy will forever live on in the Goldstein-Burke household, as well as on a bench named for him in the new Durango Discovery Museum plaza in Fall 2011.

With genuine appreciation,

Brian, Leslie, and Bailey

Borg Goldstein-Burke’s Teachings

 

In Borg’s long canine life (1995-2011), he taught us all many valuable lessons – ranging from how to live to, ultimately, how to die. Here are the top 10 life lessons that Borg embodied on a daily basis:

 

1.       Be nice to everyone because you never know who might have food for you in their pocket.

2.       Live fully immersed in the present moment and get that tail going as often as possible.

3.       When you’re out for a walk, be sure to hold your head up high with pride – but also keep your nose to the ground occasionally so you don’t step in someone else’s excrement.

4.       Take plenty of time to relax, think, and reflect, especially when no one is looking.

5.       Sleep in whatever position you find comfortable despite how weird it might appear to others.

6.       Give the people you love plenty of wet, juicy kisses and even jump on them occasionally.

7.       Wear your emotions on your fur/sleeve; life is too short to be a closed book.

8.       When the car door opens, jump in and clean the food off the floor.

9.       When hiking in the wilderness, run off and explore for a while but always come back to base.

10.   Try as hard as you can at everything until you die.