In loving memory of Theo

In loving memory of Theo, first of his name, House Heinz 57, a Rescued Knight of the Abandoned Barn. AKA "Sir Barksalot, Duke of the Land of Neurosis, Prince of Shadowland." AKA "Mr. Feesy-Beesy." AKA "Mr. Pokerface". AKA "Whatta Good Boy."

 

Theo came to us after having been rescued from a hoarding situation in Western Massachusetts where he was one of almost 100 other dogs found living in squalid conditions in a barn. The owner of the property thought she was helping them, but she was in her mid-80s and sometimes could not make it out to the barn to feed them. Sometimes, she simply forgot to feed them. Other times, she didn't have enough food to feed them. 

 

"I was only trying to help some of God's creatures," she reportedly wept to the ASPCA officers. No charges were ever filed. 

 

Theo stayed with Melinda, his foster mom, on her farm in Western Massachusetts for 18 months before he was deemed ready for adoption. He had some food issues (mostly inhaling his food before other dogs could eat it) as well as some 'avoidance aggression' issues (barking to keep people away but never to bite or harm anyone) which he had to work out first. 

 

Ms. Conroy found him on the Poodle Rescue Web Site and immediately fell in love. Theo, however, was "mostly poodle" with a mix of Jack Russell Terrier. This meant that his IQ was higher than the humans who adopted him. 

 

Theo could tell time and was quite adept at making sure his sisters and brothers, as well as his humans, knew when it was time to get up, when it was time to eat, when it was time to go for a walk, when it was time for a treat, and when it was time for bed. 

 

Many other humans were skeptical about his human's assertions that he was able to bark words like "out" and "eat". He could also bark in complete sentences and paragraphs, like, "Get up! Everybody! There's someone at the door! Hurry! It might be the FedEx man. I hate the FedEx man!"

 

Theo took great pride that, under his watchful eye, our home was never burglarized, our property never vandalized, and no human was ever injured, raped, murdered, or harmed in any way. 

 

Theo was born sometime in 2006. We think. He went into foster care on May 8th, 2007, which we celebrated as his "born again day". He died on January 5th, 2022, 12th Night, the last day of Christmastide. So, we think he was around 16 years old, which is a pretty good run for any four-legged creature of God. One look into his soulful eyes and you knew he was an ancient soul who knew a lot of stuff which he seemed to share only with his sister and brother four-legged creatures. 

 

He is preceded in death by his sisters, Ms. Coco Chanel, AKA "The Harbormaster", who died in 2012, and Ms. Sadie Gene Waggie Tail, who died September 29, 2021. He is survived by his 17-year-old brother, Lenny Bruce Brisco, now known by his amazed humans as "The Last Dog Standing." 

 

Theo absolutely adored his Uncle Bill, with whom he loved to snuggle and cuddle. He dearly loved his Auntie Anita, barking with wild, joyful abandon whenever she came to the door to take him on his walks.

He also loved Ryan, his groomer at Wizard of Paws but, unfortunately, just never liked the FedEx man who took it as a personal failure to never have been able to make friends with Theo; we know he'll be sad to learn of his passing. 

 

In his last days, Theo could no longer maintain his poker face and his eyes became very expressive. He pretty much told us, after one of his seizures, "It's okay mom. It's time for me to leave." 

 

During the last two weeks of his life, he also did something we never saw him do: He wagged his tail. We think he knew that he was going to see his beloved Sadie Gene again, and that brought him so much happiness, he could hardly contain it. 

 

Cremation services are being provided by Parsell's Pet Crematorium in Lewes, DE. 

 

Please consider honoring Theo's memory by making a donation to your local ASPCA or Humane Society or Rescue Organization so that other four-leggeds may find their "forever home". 

 

Or, consider adopting a rescued pet. They make the BEST family members. You will learn more about unconditional love than you thought you needed to know. 

 

Of your mercy and kindness please keep Theo's humans in your prayers as they grieve this unfathomable loss.

 

Farewell, Sadie Gene

An Obituary for a Beloved Family Member

 

Ms Sadie Gene Waggie-Tail, aka 'Sadie Gene, Jelly Ole Bean', Princess of The Land of Neurosis, first of her name, House Havanese, died peacefully and without pain last night in the arms of one of her humans. She had just turned eleven in August. 

 

She had been diagnosed last October with an abdominal tumor by her Vet, April Reed, who, together with her staff, had provided care with excellent skill and deep compassion. Dr Reed had planned to be here in our home “when the time came” so that Sadie’s two brothers, Lenny and Theo, could be with her as she left us, but Ms Sadie had other plans. 

 

Sadie came to us from a breeder in South Dakota via Millsboro Havanese, when she was 18 months old. After two litters it was determined that motherhood was not her calling and her breeders sought to find her a good home. 

 

As the fates allowed, she came to live with us and she quickly became an irreplaceable part of the pack at Llangollen. She will be missed by her two devoted brothers, Lenny, age 17 and Theo age 13 (recently diagnosed and being treated for cancer of the pituitary gland), her friend and walker, Auntie Anita, her Uncle Bill whom she adored, her groomer, Ryan at Wizard of Paws, who, at the end, groomed and bathed her special so she wouldn’t freak out, and the Fed Ex man, who always fell under the spell of her deep, brown soulful eyes. 

 

Cremation services will be handled by Parsell Pet Crematorium in Lewes (Part of Parsell Funeral Home where her humans will be tended to after death). A Memorial Service will be held celebrating her life later in October. She will join the ashes of her Brother Bogie who continues to keep guard over Llangollen from his spot on the desk, and Ms CoCo Chanel, who is interred in the front yard where she maintains her vigil as Honorary Harbormaster. 

 

Donations may be made in her memory to the ASPCA so that other dogs and cats may find their forever home. Of your mercy and kindness please keep her humans in your prayers as they grieve this unfathomable loss. 

 

You’re free now, Ms Sadie. You can run and walk without a waddle and the sound of the dishwasher or thunder in the distance will no longer freak you out, causing you to shivery-shake and tremble. It won’t be too much longer before you are joined by your brothers so please prepare them room. 

 

Thanks to the many wonderful memories you have left us (and password protection) you will never be forgotten. Because you were who you were, uniquely and distinctly, you will always be loved.

 

We’ll meet you at Heaven’s Gate.

 

UPDATE: SADIE GENE'S SIGN 

 

 I know. I'm going to risk looking like a complete and utter fool, perhaps confirming for some of you what you only suspected to be true about me.

As our Ms. Sadie Gene was dying, I kept telling her softly how much she was loved and how much she enriched our lives. I kept telling her that she was going to be missed but she would soon be in a place where there was no pain and where she would be able to walk and run and not be afraid of thunder or dishwashers.

I did ask her - I'm not sure where the impulse came, but the words were on my lips and out of my mouth before I could process what I was saying - that she send us a sign that she had arrived and that she was okay.

Ms. Conroy took this picture at 6:30 this morning when she was accompanying the morning constitutional of Sir Theo Barksalot, first of his name, House Heinz 57, a Rescued Knight of the Abandoned Barn.

Yes, it is a double rainbow. Right on our canal.

Think what you will. My heart is full and my soul is at peace.