Beau the Dog: helping other animals even after death

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Though he died earlier this year, one of Fairhope’s most beloved canine friends is still being remembered and helping other animals live better lives.

Beau, the constant canine companion of Jack Milstead of Bouch’s Premium Cigars, passed away earlier this year after 16 years of life, but has become the center of a t-shirt fundraising campaign put together by Bouch’s and its customers that raised $1,500 for The Haven animal shelter in Fairhope.

Milstead said since he got Beau as a rescue back in 2002, he had always been a local celebrity.

“We’d be walking down the road together and folks would stop and wave or want to talk to Beau,” Milstead said. “They didn’t know who I was, but everybody knew Beau.”

Beau was featured in the Fairhope dog book and was named the spokesmodel for the new Fairhope Dog Park when it was built.

Beau was also a constant presence in the cigar shop, a welcomed addition that always brought in more people.

“He was a staple in the shop,” Milstead said. “The wives would come in with their husbands just to ge to see Beau.”

After Beau passed away, some customers presented Milstead and the cigar shop with a framed image of Beau to hang on the wall, which sparked the idea for the fundraiser.

Bouch’s owner Gene Bouchillon bought 60 t-shirts and had Beau’s likeness put on them, selling the shirts for $25 each and donating all of the proceeds to The Haven. The shirts quickly sold out.

“We’re always trying to find ways to help the community, and this was something that both helped the community and provided a way for us and our customers to remember and give tribute to Beau,” Bouchillon said. “He was a great dog and a wonderful part of our lives, so it’s gratifying to be able to do this and try to help other animals by providing them the food and shelter they need.”

Milstead said it was moving to see the number of people who wanted to help remember Beau.

“It says a lot about our customers and the people here in town that they wanted to remember and celebrate Beau’s life with us like this,” Milstead said. “We’ve got a lot of really great people here that care a lot about animals and wanting to help them, which is a wonderful thing.”