Longtime commenter Unabogie passes on this picture of his best buddy Fergus, who passed on after a glorious 20 years, and, in fact, Fergus was around during the Clinton era and was a DD (Democratic Dog) while I was still an asshole Republican:
You can just tell a good doggie when you see one, can’t you? Happy tails Trails, Fergus!
*** Update ***
PS- Akismet is freaking out, so some comments may be temporarily delayed. Please just chill the most.
dewzke
20 years is remarkable. R.I.P., Fergus. (I love that name)
maximiliano furtive, formerly known as dr. bloor
Lovely doggie. Godspeed, Fergus.
geg6
Beautiful boy! RIP Fergus. I can tell, just from that photo, that you were a great dog and a very sweet boy.
My deepest sympathies to you, Unaboogie.
PaulW
Oh man. So many people have been losing pets this year. It’s been so sad…
seefleur
Speaking as a long-time lurker, THIS is why I love this site and the people on it. A better bunch of mensches you couldn’t find. Between the smart and wise (asses, yes totally, but in a good way) and the regard/love/respect for our fur/feather critters, I come here for the humanity who allow me to get a glimpse into people with heart and soul. Carry on… {goes back into lurk-mode}
Jebediah, RBG
Yes, you can. Here’s to you, Fergus! And my deepest condolences to Unabogie. I’m sure you made those twenty years as wonderful for him as he did for you.
SiubhanDuinne
Fergus, I will not say Rest In Peace. Rather, I will say Run In Pleasure. I know you gave enormous joy during your earth years, and I know you have left a huge empty hole in Unabogie’s heart. What a wonder, to give so much love and be loved so much in return. Run, Race … and then, when you’re ready, Rest a bit.
Fluke bucket
Rainbow Bridge baby, eventually we all cross it.
bystander
Condolences, Unabogie. Such a precious companion. Tucked safely now beneath a corner of your heart, Fergus lives forever.
MoeLarryAndJesus
Wonderful version of the song “Carrickfergus” by Van Morrison and the Chieftains:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSngcH-TVWU
Jamey
He was just waiting for you to come around, JGC…
Wow, 20. That’s a real gift!
ruemara
Sweet journey, Fergus. You were a good dog and you get to go first, to make sure everything is set up just the way Unaboogie likes. Condolences, Unaboogie. We only get them for a short while here on earth, but they have maximum impact.
Jane2
What a handsome boy Fergus was! I’ll bet he’s already charming all the ladies at the Rainbow Bridge.
PsiFighter37
But was he a Blue Dog or a Yellow Dog?
20 years old – I can only hope to be around anywhere close to that long in human years (which is equivalent of 140 right?).
Gus
What a sweet face. 20 years is a great run, but I know it’s still too short, Unabogie. My deepest condolences.
SiubhanDuinne
@dewzke:
I do too. And my brother had a dog, years ago, named Fogarty. Loved that name as well.
Violet
Oh, you can just tell Fergus was a good doggie. Condolences, Unaboogie. What a gift to have 20 years. Even in your sorrow, may the joyous times warm your heart. RIP, Fergus.
lockewasright
Dogs are the best people in the world. R.I.P. Fergus.
jenn
I’m sorry for your loss, Unabogie. Fergus was a beaut! That pic of him – reminds me of my old girl, who I so miss!
raven
Aw what a sweetie.
Gex
Much love, Fergus. Much hugs and love, Unabogie.
Mrs. Unabogie
@SiubhanDuinne: That was beautiful, it brought tears to my eyes!
SectionH
Sniff. What a sweetie. Unabogie, my sincere condolences.
Mrs. Unabogie
Thank you, John Cole, for posting this! Thank you everyone for your kind words, it means a lot to Unabogie and myself!
raven
We who choose to surround ourselves
with lives even more temporary than our
own, live within a fragile circle;
easily and often breached.
Unable to accept its awful gaps,
we would still live no other way.
We cherish memory as the only
certain immortality, never fully
understanding the necessary plan.
— Irving Townsend
Ash Can
What a nice doggie. Condolences to Unabogie and family.
Unabogie
Aw, you guys have got me crying all over again. Fergus was not just a good doggie. He was a good person. He was an instant friend to all people, cats, and anyone else he met. He survived many a brush with death to make it to that ripe old age. And in the end, we had a compassionate vet come to the house and we let him go peacefully in our arms.
Ok, quick and stupid story and I won’t bore you guys anymore. When we first rescued him (because the best dogs are always rescues, right?) we took him in to a training class. Total newbies. And Fergus was just instantly great at it. So part of the class was “Doggie Tic Tac Toe” wherein you put your dog in a sit, and as long as he doesn’t stand up you keep your square. The winning team won some dog treats. Fergus was perfect. He wouldn’t budge and would just sit there waiting for the release. By the next class, everyone…I mean EVERYONE came up to us and wanted him on their team. He was like Lebron James and Kobe all rolled up into a dog born to play Tic Tac Toe. He done made us proud.
And idiots that we were, we thought we were awesome dog trainers. Now we know better. He was just the world’s best dog.
Thanks, guys.
fuqules
from a lurker, missing a dear friend three years gone…
My call for all the passing beautiful dogs: Run Fergus! Run run run!
satby
You gave Fergus a happy life as a beloved companion, Unabogie. We can do no better for them. So sorry for your loss.
Paddy
{{{{{{{{Unabogie}}}}}}}
SectionH
@Unabogie: You can tell all the stories you want, for my part.
Scott S.
Twenty years! That’s incredible!
Condolences to Unabogie — and I think, congratulations, for having such a great friend for so long…
scav
Good dog. Great dog.
Unabogie
@SectionH:
Ok, last one then!
He doesn’t look it in the picture, but he was an amazing leaper. He was getting out of the backyard somehow, although we had a fence and couldn’t find any holes. We’d just come home to find him waiting on the front porch, often strangely smelling of pancakes.
So we decided to leave the house and drive around the block and set up a sting operation. We left, came back, and waited until high up on the gate, in a space that was literally the width of a two by four, was his little snout. This is like six feet high, just above where the latch was. And then came his head. Then the shoulders. Then the hips. Then that little 15 pound dog squeezed his whole body through and landed happily to freedom!
And there we were. The fuzz. So he runs up, wagging his tail like nothing was going on. “Hey guys, where are we going?”
SiubhanDuinne
@raven:
As frequently as I’ve read those lines, as often as you’ve been obliged to share them, I still tear up every single time.
Dee Loralei IPhone
So sorry Unaboogie, what an awesome life you gave to Fergus
SiubhanDuinne
@Unabogie:
This is Pythonesque in its poetry.
Unabogie
By the way, this picture is from the morning. He was just sleeping peacefully with his friend Maxwell. Maxwell, by the way, is a total jerk (we still love him anyway).
SiubhanDuinne
@seefleur:
I like your style. Please delurk as often as you wish.
Jane2
@Unabogie: What a great story!! Of course, you know that all the other doggie owners were jealous of you because they secretly thought you had some sort of super-secret treat capacity to make Fergus do that.
Knight of Nothing
@Unabogie: it sounds like Fergus was a fine friend, companion, and family member. You have my sympathies.
Davis X. Machina
I was discussing with a class, just this week past, Argos, Odysseus’ dog, who waits out the twenty years until his master’s return — ten years of war, ten years of wandering — and dies a happy dog when he finally sees his master again, (Odyssey 17) None of us could recall ever meeting a dog that old.
That’s a very good run of years.
khead
We had a kitteh make it to 20. Having them that long makes it very hard to let go. Sorry for your loss, Unabogie.
Comrade Mary
Unabogie, Fergus was a beautiful dog, inside and out. I’m so sorry you’ve lost him.
Suzanne
What a cutie-pants. Lovely Fergus. Hugs to you, Unabogie.
Schlemizel
20 year! What a lucky bustard – you and Fergus both. Thats a lot of good times to remember in order to ease the pain of your lose. Focus on those good times
fleeting expletive
Re: Black Friday. I think if retailers who advertise on TV were to run spots that say “We respect and honor our employees. We will not require them to work on Thanksgiving nor on Friday. They deserve to have time with their families. We will open on Saturday as usual” I think they’d get a lot of credibility. When that happens, Black Friday and unholy Thanksgiving hours would attain an air of disrespect that that they so richly deserve. I will never enter a store on Thursday or Friday and I think those stores who advertise deserve ridicule and censure. They are not people friendly.
Kristine
@Unabogie: Twenty years is amazing.
Sincerest condolences. May Fergus find that special place where they have All The Pancakes.
Lurking Buffoon
My condolences. They say only the good die young, but clearly they’re never talking about pets. 20 years is a hell of a gift of love.
MattR
@Unabogie: My condolences. Knowing that Fergus made it to 20 gives me some hope that I have plenty of time with my Ellie, who just turned 10.
@fleeting expletive: Something like this? (EDIT: I initially missed that your comment said closed on Friday too. PC Richard is open on Friday but closed on Thursday. And at least all their deals are good all day on Friday so you don’t have to camp overnight)
Yatsuno
@Unabogie: A kiss awaits you when you and he are together again. A toast to a good puppeh.
JordanRules
What a beautiful buddy. And those stories give such a great glimpse. I’m picturing him all proud in his All Star Pooch jersey.
This is a great place to be when you need to share, life and cry. Cheers to Fergus!
ruemara
@Unabogie: Pet memories are never boring. Tell on.
ellie
Geez puppy.
Tommy
What a handsome guy. I am more of a cat guy myself, and honestly I can’t even tell you how messed up I was when I lost one. Did not make sense how emotional I got.
Bort
I wish we could adopt an old shelter dog. But we have old cats. We started with 5 strays over 15 years ago and are now down to 2.
notorious JRT
FSMspeed, sweet Fergus.
Unabogie, sorry for your loss of your long-time friend. 20 years is a chunk of a lifetime.
CaseyL
Condolences on the loss of your friend. 20 years is a majestic lifespan for a dog; you did good to keep him that long.
Old Dan and Little Ann
20 years! Hot damn. Cheers to Fergus. That’s a mighty fine life. My wife and I thought our old dog Mickey would live forever. He made it to 10 1/2. Look forward to seeing him again. : )
Tommy
20 years is a long time. About half my life on this earth.
Eljai
Mr and Mrs Unabogie, you are awesome people for taking such good care of Fergus. He clearly had quite a vibrant presence on this planet. I am truly sorry for your loss.
? Martin
I just gave up on a task with my son because I’m too tired. I don’t think that’s ever happened before. I feel old.
eric
@Davis X. Machina: my favorite character in all classic literature.
my thoughts are with you…just know that my 6 month old puppy is “annoying” me and got a biscuit for his troubles after I read this….he has no clue why :)
Tommy
Here is where I say I need a dog.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/webranding/7260903216/
Never had a dog myself, but in the coming holidays I’ll be spending a ton of time with Murphy. I love the big guy!
Mary G
Mr. and Mrs. Unabogie: You and Fergus were blessed to have so many years together, yet it’s never enough, is it?
My condolences on your huge loss. He sounds like an amazing character and I agree that more stories would be welcome.
Seanly
My condolences on your lost.
My wife & I have an old boy recently diagnosed with cancer. We’re hoping he can make it not just to Christmas, but also his 12th birthday in late January. Now I’m getting teary eyed…
Villago Delenda Est
Unabogie and family, you obviously had a great run with Fergus, but all things that are great must end. At least he’s running like mad across the cosmos now, forever free and good.
Totally OT, but the morons at Noisemax have been snookered by Bill Ayers, who plays the racist twits like violins.
seaboogie
Unabogie,
My pal Seamus – gorgeous golden retriever in the BJ calendar, passed away at this time last year at the age of 14. He was a person too. Onliest dog I ever had, and every dog lover told me that he was the coolest dog they ever met. Dogs are really the best best soul companions.
I miss him so hard.
sharl
Aw, what a sweet-looking boy. Goodbye Fergus.
My condolences, Mr. & Mrs. Unabogie.
sharl
@seaboogie: Condolences to you as well. Those kind of anniversaries are hard. I hope the good memories of Seamus are able to provide you with some consolation and “psychic warmth”.
L Boom
From a longtime lurker with a pup named Fergus (if you can call a 100 pound, year and a half-old lab-mastiff a pup), I’m finding this all very moving. So sorry for your loss, Unabogie, we dream of a 20 year run with our monster but can’t imagine it ending after all that time.
gogol's wife
My condolences to you. He looks so, so sweet.
Lurker
Whast a lovely dog! R.I.P. Fergus. My condolences to you, Unabogie. Losing a beloved pet is always a dreadful experience.
Lurker
Whast a lovely dog! R.I.P. Fergus. My condolences to you, Unabogie. Losing a beloved pet is always a dreadful experience.
Lurker
Whast a lovely dog! R.I.P. Fergus. My condolences to you, Unabogie. Losing a beloved pet is always a dreadful experience.
J R in WV
@Unabogie:
So sorry for your loss! We lost two of the best farm dogs – Clyde didn’t come back from a late nite prowl – he was a big bossy black longhair about 18, and Boomer we took to Wendy’s for a cheesburger, and then a visit to his buddies at the vet.
Boomer weighed in about 90 lbs, brown with a pink nose, deep bark, scared sneak theives right back into their crummy PU trucks. In about 6 weeks. I think of them running across the ridge in the big woods!
I would have voted for Furgus [sic, hahah!] for any offfice against any Republican you can imagine, even my wingnut brother. So that makes him a Yellowdog Democrat!
Remembering the good years is the best, think of the running together, how much Furgus appreciated a bite of something dripping juice almost too hot to snarf, how he showed his appreciation. They really are better than most people!
And rescue another, real soon, that helps so much. We have two labs now, a white/mix and a honey colored mix, and they wrestle and do doggie tai chi with the nieghbor dogs, and go out at 4 am to sniff around while I take a whiz… I love me some dogs!!
So long, Furgus, keep chasing those squirrels!!! Good Boy!!!
Unabogie
@seaboogie:
You just know that Seamus and Fergus are best friends now, what with those Irish names.
Patricia Kayden
Sorry about the passing of Fergus. So good that you got to love him up for 20 years.
Bubba Dave
Deepest sympathies. Fergus loved well and was well loved; may his memory be a blessing.
phoebes-in-santa fe
So sorry about your loss. Fergus looks and sounds like a fine friend and companion. Twenty years is a long, long time to have a pet and to enjoy his love. It makes it all that much harder when it ends. God speed to Fergus and all the other fine pets we’ve lost this year.
I’m sitting here on my bed with AliceObama sound asleep with her body scrunched up against the computer. She’s a 7 year old rescue tabby and her brother, RobinObama, is a 4 year old rescue tuxie. They’ve loved each other since they were first introduced three years ago. They are two of the things that keep my heart going.
So I understand well your love and appreciation for Fergus. Do you think you’ll get another dog someday?
Unabogie
@phoebes-in-santa fe:
Not only some day, but we were willing to head out today to go visit some puppy inmates. I think we’ll find our other dog, Maxwell, a new pal very soon.
And always, always a rescue.
Jebediah, RBG
@Tommy:
You’re Walter White?
Mrs. Unabogie
@Seanly: That’s sucky news! I hope he pulls through!
Mrs. Unabogie
@Mary G: Okay, one quick story: Fergus used to get along very well with my cats when they were kittens. They would play this game I like to call “I bet I can grab your foot before you claw my face”. They would play this for hours, he’d sit there and bark in my cat’s face, dog breath and all, and they looked very happy.
phoebes-in-santa fe
@Unabogie: Good, Mr and Mrs Unabogie.
Juju
@Unabogie: I’m so sorry about Fergus. I lost my beautiful golden retriever blend Isabel in August. She was in July and October in the calendar. In October she was wearing a pumpkin hat. Twenty years is wonderful. I’m sure he had a great life because he had you and Mrs. Unabogie.
Grieve not,
but laugh and talk of me as if I were beside you…
I loved you so…
twas heaven here with you.
~Ilsa Paschal Richardson
Juju
@seaboogie: You probably won’t see this because I am so late to this thread, but since I was fortunate to get to know you when Isabel died and your comments and empathy helped to soothe my broken heart, I wanted to tell you about Martha. Martha is a beautiful red golden I adopted on Veteran’s Day. Martha is an older girl who’s family moved and just left her behind to fend for herself. She has had, from what I can tell so far, a very hard life. It’s my goal to make her as happy as I can for the rest of her life. So far, so good. I can’t pet and hug her enough as far as Martha is concerned, and I can’t pet and hug her enough, as far as I’m concerned, so we are a good match.
Jebediah, RBG
@Juju:
This just made my night.
Mrs. Unabogie
@Juju: I’m so glad that you met each other!
Unabogie
This thread is probably dead by now, but for a postscript…
We found a rescue, long legged Spaniel something or other, and took her home. We named her “Amelia Pond”. Yep, we’re nerds.
Juju
@Unabogie: Wonderful news!!