I Always Loved A Dog Named Beau

[EmergencyIan]

Background:

James Stewart owned a "willful but beloved" golden retriever named Beau, of whom he was extremely fond. Beau slept in the corner of Stewart's bedroom, but would often crawl onto the bed between Stewart and his wife Gloria. Stewart recalled, "he was up there because he wanted me to pat his head, so that’s what I would do. Somehow, my touching his hair made him happier, and just the feeling of him laying against me helped me sleep better."
While shooting a movie in Arizona, Stewart received a phone call from Dr. Keagy, his veterinarian, who informed him that Beau was terminally ill, and that Gloria sought his permission to perform euthanasia. Stewart declined to give a reply over the phone, and told Keagy to "Keep him alive and I'll be there." Stewart requested several days' leave, which allowed him to spend some time with Beau before granting the doctor permission to euthanize the sick dog. Following the procedure, Stewart sat in his car for ten minutes to clear his eyes of tears. Stewart later remembered:

“After [Beau] died there were a lot of nights when I was certain that I could feel him get into bed beside me and I would reach out and pat his head. The feeling was so real that I wrote a poem about it and how much it hurt to realize that he wasn’t going to be there anymore.”

Here is Jimmy Stewart on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in July 1981 reading this poem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwGnCIdHQH0


- Ian

 

[Dixie_Amazon]

Thank you for posting this. I am all teary.

 

[Yeps]

I had a dog named Beau. He was a Border Collie.

 

[EmergencyIan]

Thank you for posting this. I am all teary.

You're very welcome! In my opinion, this poem and the reading of it is a treasure.

- Ian

 

[Tomasso]

I saw that when it first aired.

 

[Classydame]

Ian,

Thank you for posting, I am also teary eyed. I so relate to it. You are right, it is a treasure!

Shellie

 

[EmergencyIan]

Ian,

Thank you for posting, I am also teary eyed. I so relate to it. You are right, it is a treasure!

Shellie

Shellie, you're welcome.


- Ian

 

[tonyb]

A "classic" (there's a better word for it, I'm sure) bit of TV. I can't swear that I saw it when it originally aired, although I may well have, seeing how I routinely watched Johnny Carson back then, but I have seen it numerous times since.

My wife and I took in a pound mutt (or, as they say these days, we adopted a mixed-breed canine companion from the rescue shelter) almost a year ago. It had been nearly four decades since I'd had a dog, and I had nearly forgotten the extent to which a dog can worm its way into one's heart. Granted, the furry little f%#@er can be a real pain in the rump sometimes, but I can't imagine life without him.

 

[Treetopflyer]

I always get a little teary eyed when I see that. Not only because I am dog lover, but because Jimmy Stewart, a man among men really, is almost to tears himself while reading this.

 

[dhermann1]

I remember that Carson episode, too. And it was also used on a couple Carson Show compilations.
I can testify to Goldens being just like that. My GF has a huge 90 pounder, and all he wants is to be touched. Like having a car in bed with you.