In Loving Memory - Hana

A Celebration of Life Story

     When I was a college student at OSU in Stillwater, Oklahoma, I volunteered at a small community theatre called Town & Gown.  I worked with a women named Barbara Freed, who later would become my mother-in-law.  She and I would work endless hours hours on sets, lights, costumes and anything else that needed our attention.  One day, while we were taking a break and drinking our grape Nehi sodas, Barbara and I got into a conversation about life.  She said when she passed away she wanted people to have a party to celebrate her life.  Indeed, when Barbara passed away, we held her memorial service at Town & Gown and afterwards we had a party.

     The one thing Barbara loved more than the Town & Gown was her boxers.  She and my father-in-law Lee Freed owned 14 boxers during their lifetimes.  So it became  a family tradition to own boxers.  My husband Ned and I had just lost our beagle and we wanted to get another family member, so we filled out our on-line application at BRLA.  Ursula called us that night.  We told Ursula we were interested in meeting a boxer named Bogart, so Saturday morning we loaded up Thomas, our human child, and our miniature doxie Marco and headed for BRLA.  When we got there, Ursula told Joe we wanted to meet Bogart.  When Bogart met Marco he tried to eat him. (Some boxers see small dogs as prey when they get along with larger boxers just fine; That was the case with Bogart.) Joe was willing to try to work it out but I wasn’t, so Joe got very excited and said, “I will bring out the little girl.” Joe brought out Hana and she got along with Marco beautifully.

     Once we got home Ned showed Hana where the dog door was; he even stuck his head in and out the dog door so Hana could see exactly how the dog door worked.  (I thought to myself, “My husband is really well trained.”)  After Hana settled in Marco grabbed his marrow bone filled with peanut butter and started chewing it.  I said to Marco, “Do you think you could share your bone with Hana?”  Marco very gently gave Hana the bone and she chewed it for about 10 minutes while Marco watched.  Then I said, Hana do you think you could give Marco a turn with the bone?”  Hana very gently gave Marco the bone back.  I thought to myself, “If only people could have the compassion that  these two canines have just showed, what a greater place the world would be.”

     I am a firm believer that you do not choose your dog, but they choose you.  I feel privileged and honored that Hana chose me.  The one mistake I made with Hana is my son and I left for a family reunion in Oklahoma only two weeks after we got her.  My husband stayed home to take care of Marco and Hana. Shortly after our arrival in Oklahoma I got a phone call from my husband saying, “Give me one good reason not to take this boxer back to BRLA?  She chewed up my remote control!”  “Ursula will be so disappointed,” I replied.  (When we were at BRLA it saddened my husband to see so many boxers in need, and Ursula has saved so many thought out the years.  We both have the utmost respect for Ursula.)  I did add that it would also break my heart to send Hana back because I had fallen in love with my baby girl.  Then my husband did something he had never done before HE GROWLED AT ME, but we kept Hana.  I do have a piece of advice for all newly adopted boxers when it come to your new human dads, you can chew up $200.00 dress shoes or even a nice comforter but you can not chew up a man’s remote control.  You know boys and their toys!

     We adopted Hana when she was 3 years old; she was 12 and 1/2 when she passed away.  She was not a pure bred but actually an bull-box: Part English bulldog and part boxer.  She was loyal and protective of the entire family, both human and canine. Proof of this came when Ned, Marco, Feugard (our new beagle at the time), Hana and I were taking a walk in the neighborhood and a large female German shepherd came charging up to our “pack”.  Hana pulled so hard that she yanked her leash from my hand and started chasing this German shepherd  all over the yard.  Although Hana was a small boxer I knew that if she caught the shepherd it would been all over for the shepherd.  Finally Hana’s leash got caught on a rose bush and I was back in control.  Hana was a very easy going dog but you never threatened her family.

     Along with protecting us she also entertained us as well.  Hana never barked but woo-wooed - it must be the english bulldog-boxer blend.  One time she put a hallow marrow bone in her mouth and woo-wooed.  It sounded like a small trumpet, Ned and I were so proud we had found a musical dog.  (My husband plays the trumpet.)  The first time she did it, it scared her so much she dropped the bone.  But after she got used to the sound the entire family encourage her to do it over and over.

     This last year Hana slowed down quite a bit.  One time she met me at the door with a toy and wanted me to chase her which I did but after two minutes she started panting and had to stop.  It made me sad.  But even at twelve she still knew what was acceptable and not.  One time some friends left the house from the garage door and not the front door.  Hana threw her head toward the garage telling me that was not the door guest should leave from.  I told her she was absolutely right and I promised it would never happen again.

    Hana was very particular on door etiquette.  A friend named Allen entered the back yard from one of the side gate.  When Hana saw him, he was on his knees bending over fixing a sprinkler.  Hana went through the dog door, went up to Allen and butted her head into Allen’s derriere.  Honestly, the appropriate  etiquette would have been for Allen to come through the front door, Allen would then greet Hana and give her pats and then Hana would escort Allen to the backyard.  Allen learned his lesson and he followed the correct door etiquette after that.  

     Hana also helped foster many homeless boxers.  She taught puppies and older boxers how to behave well so they were easily adopted.  You see, for 6 years I was a BRLA volunteer.  I saved an average of 27 boxers per year. One night while I was visiting with my friends Rick and Vicky I told them my sister had a theory that when someone passes away a greeter comes down from heaven and shows that person the path to heaven.  I told Rick and Vicky when I pass away I want Hana to be my greeter.  Rick said, “Tamara, you have saved so many a whole pack will greet you.”  I said, “That is OK, so long as Hana is in the lead.”

Special Thanks To:

Dr. Eric Weigand from Claremont Veterinary Hospital
for providing wonderful veterinary care

Stacey Zarbock for being there when I could not

Ursula for founding BRLA

The volunteer that saved Hana and all the volunteers at BRLA