In Loving Memory
of Bob 3742
_________

Bob #3742 and his best friend, Poppy, came to rescue from a commercial breeding facility in April 2023. At the time, we were told Bob was 7 years old. We suspect he may have been closer to 11. His cloudy eyes, hearing loss, and arthritis suggested he might have been older — though we’ll never truly know whether those signs were due to age or the hardships of spending his entire life outdoors in a cage before coming to NBGR and into foster care.

One of Bob’s most serious medical issues was a narrowed trachea. About a year after entering rescue, he developed bronchitis. What started as a cough quickly became severe — he struggled to breathe and would cough until he became sick to his stomach.

In July 2024, we made the difficult decision to move forward with surgery to help his trachea. It was major surgery and not a choice we took lightly. But Bob had embraced his new life with such joy, and we couldn’t believe it was already his time to leave it. He came through the surgery well, though recovery was long. Slowly but surely, Bob returned to loving life again.

After receiving his tracheal stent, Bob remained prone to upper respiratory infections, but with medication, he continued to enjoy his days. The surgery gave him another 18 precious months — time filled with comfort, love, and the simple happiness he had been denied for so many years.

Toward the end of his life, his coughing and infections worsened again. When his devoted foster parents felt he was beginning to suffer, they made the heartbreaking and selfless decision to let him go on January 28th.

We are deeply grateful to Bob’s foster parents, who loved and cared for him for nearly three years — and who continue to care for Poppy, who was heartworm positive when she arrived in rescue. Bob and Poppy were part of NBGR’s Paws of Winter program, and they were truly cherished.

Bob’s foster mom shared:
“It seems really strange to look down and he isn’t there. He was the most velcro dog I’ve ever had. He was at my feet ALWAYS — every shower, every meal I cooked, even when he felt bad.”

Run free, Bob. No more coughing.