“He works for the good of all who love Him and have been called for His purpose.” ~ Romans 8:28
Eugene lives on a cul-de-sac - the fancier relative of a
dead-end street. Its benefits include less
car and foot traffic resulting in more privacy.
The downside is that people sometimes come by and dump unwanted pets
there, leaving them to fend for themselves.
Now he spends the majority of his retirement looking after
stray dogs. At 82, what can be more
golden than that?
He’s taken in countless dogs
over the years, fed them, and got them spayed and neutered. Eugene made a place for them to live and be
loved. But more than just keeping them
safe, he's found an adorable way to keep them happy, too.
One day while driving down a country road near his home, he became
fascinated watching his canine passenger with his head out the truck’s window. The reason dogs like doing that has little to
do with enjoying the scenery or feeling the wind. They have an incredible sense of smell. So, they hang out the window to enjoy the sensory
overload of new and pleasurable smells zipping by.
He cut holes in 55-gallon fiberglass barrels, put wheels
under them, and tied them together. The
former railroad employee takes his conductor duties seriously: each car has
assigned seating for his furry passengers. He added pillows to make them feel more
comfortable. There’s also a wooden ramp
available to help those who might have trouble boarding his puppy express.
Behind his lawn tractor, Eugene began taking the rescue pack
of nine in his care around town a couple of times each week. “Now whenever they hear me hooking the
tractor up, they get so excited," he said. "They all come running and board the
train on their own. They're always ready
to go joyriding!"
Residents often spot them go puttering down quiet streets,
through the forest near their home, or stopping by a local creek for some fresh
air in the coolest, most adorable train in the world. One of the locals even set up a GoFundMe
campaign to help cover the expenses of caring for the dogs. And raised over
$17,000.
Perhaps Eugene Bostick's most
memorable job began long after he retired. However, the Fort Worth native never expected
his life to take such an unorthodox turn. It was the cruelty of others that forced him
to take on the duty of helping needy pets.
He couldn't bear to see them left to starve on the streets.
Good works often arise from the
cruelest circumstances. One thing’s for
sure, bad things equip believers like Eugene for deeper ministry.
Father God, we live in a world of suffering. Your Son was no stranger to pain. Instead of doubting Your goodness, help us lean
not on your own understanding, but to trust in You more completely. Amen
