Tributes

Barney

My husband and I are devastated over the loss of our sweet Barney.  We adopted Barney from Golden Retriever Rescue Resource, Inc. on May 30, 2006.  He died on October 29, 2008 from hemangiocarcoma, a type of cancer that I now know plagues Golden Retrievers. 

Our vet estimated Barney to be about eight years old when he came to live with us in 2006.  We wondered about adopting a dog that had already lived so much of his life . . . Would he adapt to us and the Golden we already had?  Would he have bad habits?  How would we figure out his likes and dislikes?  But adopting a senior dog turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of our life, really because of Barney’s eight years of life before us.  He came to us full of manners and skills that were a surprise and a joy. 

 For instance, Barney was an expert with all basic commands, plus he was polite in a way that we had never been able to achieve with a dog.  Barney always waited to cross a threshold until we had gone, and he never jumped on furniture until he was invited.  He also never entered our bedroom or bathroom without permission.  Our other Goldens have always wanted a front row seat when we are in the bathroom!  Also, Barney spent the first night we had him in a crate, and he was never in the crate again; he was that trustworthy from the very beginning.  Barney was so well-trained that we called him the “turn-key dog”!

There were other traits that Barney brought with him when he became part of our family.  Like his athleticism.  Barney was faster than any dog at the dog park, and he looked so powerful and beautiful as he ran down tennis balls.  And he could swim like no beast we’ve ever seen!  We took him to my parents’ home on the lake frequently, but always worried he would swim away – he was that strong in the water.  Finally we learned to tie him to a ski rope and the end of the dock and he would swim at the end of it for as long as we would let him.  Barney was also quite a hunter, very interested in all the wildlife in our yard and on walks.  It was evident that at one time Barney had been taught to hunt.     

Though someone else taught Barney his impeccable manners and athletic prowess, we were lucky enough to adopt him with all of his talents.  Barney showed us how worthwhile and wonderful it is to adopt a senior dog with life experience and tons of personality.   

What we gave to Barney was simple:  food, shelter, and all the love in our hearts.  But what Barney gave to us was so much more:  huge, soft, dark brown eyes that looked at us with adoration, a tail that wagged every time we spoke to him, a soft body to cuddle with in good times and bad, and unwavering love and devotion.  We did not raise Barney from the tender age of eight weeks old, instead meeting him when he was a worldly eight years old.  And though Barney was only with us for two and a half years, we could not have loved him more if we had known him his entire life.  We miss Barney more than words can say, but are so grateful that he came into our life.