Bijou

January 15, 2007 - October 10, 2023

A very hard goodbye. 💔🐾🕊️

In the warm embrace of October's golden hues, I find myself reminiscing about our beloved fur-baby, the one and only Bijou, our unique, enthusiastic border collie (crossed with Jack Russell). It’s a story of love, trials, and the unbreakable bond that formed between Paul and I through the spirited presence of our furry girl. I still remember the day I picked out Bijou; she was perfect. At the time, I was a house owner and a single mother with a vivacious 5-year-old daughter, Émilie . I surprised my roommates Mélanie and her daughter Épiphanie. Bijou was this black and white pup with an unforgettable black patch over her left eye and she entered our home with boundless energy and a spirit that was simply infectious. Eventually Mel & Épi moved out and my cousin from France, Josée, moved in with me and we use to take our turns to run Bijou everyday around the large neighborhood pond sometimes multiple times a day.

Despite all our efforts to exercise and contain her, Bijou had an innate need to roam. She was bred for agility, a fly disc dog at heart. Countless times, I found myself packing Émilie, into the car, embarking on adventures to locate our adventurous pup, who had embarked on solo escapades once again.

Eventually, it became clear that Bijou yearned for a country home where she could truly thrive. With a heavy heart, I made the tough decision to ask my parents, who lived in the countryside, to care for her temporarily while I searched for a suitable home.

Then, a twist of fate intervened, a call that left me heartbroken. Bijou had found a new home with a ‼️stranger‼️ named Paul and his family. I hadn’t even had a chance to say a proper goodbye to my dear sweet girl but I took comfort in the fact that two small children (now both adults) were getting to love and experience Bijou the way we had loved her dearly.

Little did I know that fate had something magical in store for both of us. Through a chain of connections, my brother Mathieu’s then girlfriend, (now wife) Meghan, reached out to her childhood neighbor, Paul and he expressed interest in adopting Bijou.

Remarkably, Paul and his family kept Bijou’s name, her original name tags, her leash, everything! Paul remembers having to call my brother Mathieu to learn the French commands « how do you get this dog to sit, stay, lay down, etc…. ». Bijou had never heard English commands before, lol. She eventually did learn the English commands but also knew and remembered the French ones making her a bilingual dog. Impressively, Bijou was on a verbal leash making her incredibly easy to travel with off leash and go on big adventures throughout the countryside of Springfield.

In 2016, as our paths converged once more, both Paul and I had experienced separations and divorces, but from that serendipitous late night bonfire at Mathieu & Meghan’s place, Paul, the « stranger », invited me for a moonlight golf cart 🛺 adventure to the pits. And, it was on this night in mid September 2016, sparks ignited, and love blossomed. Bijou always alongside the two of us got to witness her mom and dad fall in love. Bijou, once again, became a cherished part of my life.

For Paul, Bijou was more than just a dog; she was his partner in crime, his loyal sidekick, his everything. Together, they were an inseparable duo, a package deal, always embarking on thrilling adventures that would leave anyone in awe. From racing at astounding speeds to riding quads, samurai’s and dirt bikes, Bijou embraced every moment of life's adventure. Her love for fishing (and going on her annual fishing trip at Paul’s parents island at Lake of the woods with Paul & Jody), swimming, boat rides and running after balls, toy eggs or a frisbee was unmatched, and she truly became a beloved figure in the Springfield community, a true community dog.

As the years passed, Bijou's distinct presence in our lives enriched us all with boundless love and admiration. Each of mine (Émilie & Loïc )and Paul’s kids (Parker & Morgan) got to grow up with Bijou in their lives. She was everyone's beacon of happiness, a source of laughter, she was truly our family member. And to Paul and I, she was symbol of the love that had blossomed between us.

In her final weeks, three months shy of her 17th birthday, Bijou faced the cruel grip of seizures, and it became evident that her time with us was drawing to a close. Our hearts ached, knowing that she wouldn't be there for our wedding next year 💔 💍 . But, her body was weary, and pain had taken its toll. A week ago today, on October 10th, 2023, with tears in our eyes and heavy hearts, we made the heart-wrenching decision to bid our beloved Bijou farewell.

Thank you to Rita of Sunset Veterinary Care for the incredible care and attention you showed us and Bijou during the home visit on October 10th. Thank you TJ & Dawn of Danbella's Professional Canine Grooming for the phone calls and words of encouragement ❤️ 🌈 🐾 . Merci aussi à toi ma chère Julie d’avoir été présente en pensé pendant que notre chère Bijou quitte ce monde. Thank you Cheri for capturing our family photos with Bijou. It meant the world to us and we will forever cherish those pictures. Thank you to each and everyone who made it out to Bijou’s goodbye party last weekend and even to those who couldn’t make it but reached out and to those who knew her and loved her dearly. Thank you ❤️

As we remember our sweet Bijou, we are reminded of the love story that unfolded through her presence. Bijou, you were the tie that bound us, and your spirit will forever live on in our hearts. Rest in peace, our dear beloved girl, and know that your love will always be a part of our story. ❤️🐾

January 15th 2007 - October 10th 2023 🐾❤️