"Barnaby"

Aust. Ch. Tarnell Age O' Reason

Born 18th December 1988
Passed Away 4th August 2004

 Affectionately "Precious"

Owned by Tara West

The following tribute was written by Tara:

Six months since Thalia (Miss Wiglet) left my world to enter Rainbow Bridge, dear Nanas has departed on the same journey. 

 Forever the defiant little sausage, he decided to leave when he wanted, and on his terms. On his last day, he left me undecided about how long he would have on this Earth. As he lay in my arms, he looked up at me and extended his head to lay his cheek to mine. And as my tears rested on his little dry nose he looked right into my eyes and rubbed his cheek against mine. He was telling me that it was okay, he was tired, scared, and had had enough.

I am convinced that throughout everything Miss Wiglet was with him. When he closed his eyes for the last time I was there to say goodbye, and when he opened them again, Miss Wiglet was there to say “hello, I’m so glad we’re together again.” They are now together, forever.

Anyone who knew Nanas was aware of how “different” he was. Usually with a grin in place, he commanded attention and loved to get in trouble. And as my Sister knew, put a smile on your face and he was all over you like a flash! Speaking of flash, all I had to do was whip out the camera and in a second he was posing. The ears would drop a little, he’d tuck down those lips, cock the head on the side, put this look in his eye, and freeze. As soon as the photo was taken he was up and business as usual... “where’s my treat?!”

I've lost track of how many heart attacks he has given me.  At times I have marvelled at how much he is like me when I was younger!! They say dogs are like their owners. *wink* 

Let me see... what did he get up to? Oh yes, first it was the fish.  I have no idea how he extended his neck to reach the raw fish which was right at the back of the sink... but that he did.  It must have been delicious.

As I decided this was amusing, he took this as a token of my acceptance that it was fun and hunky dory.  Next, he progressed to my riding boots.  He thought "nope, you're not putting attention on those darn horses... it's all mine!"  No boots, no riding.

Next it was the beanbag airing on the clothes line.  I came home to be greeted with a snowing backyard.  It progressed to a rampage of the lounge room (he left the $20 note on the coffee table but ate everything else) and escapades around the Mount with little Miss Wiglet (although I'm sure she was the instigator!).  Needless to say, life was never dull... he made sure of that.

He may have mellowed with age, but his mischief making ways and defiant nature was always evident.  If I asked him to sit somewhere he would give me a belligerent stare, go "humph!" and sit where he damn well pleased.  And try to get him inside when he didn't want to... "no thank you, I'll just go for a wander and trample over the plants."  On the last morning before he made his journey to Rainbow Bridge he still did this!  That morning, I looked out the kitchen window, and I was amazed.  Because I saw him trampling around the plants and climbing - yes, climbing! - down the rock retaining wall (a little one, mind you, but still a rock all the same).  

And that morning, at 4am, he had suffered what I thought was a mini-seizure, so he must have decided he would just take a walk, and sniff around for the last time.  Perhaps getting a glimpse of Miss Wiglet's scent, perhaps a scent of the Maggie that was there that morning... just, I think, revelling in all that life had offered him.  A celebration.

When Nanas first came to live with me he craved attention - attention he received! How glad I am that we discovered each other!!! 

Nanas, I am so delighted that I had you in my life. As is everyone who ever had the pleasure of meeting and knowing you. You taught me the other side of life. That’s how I can explain it. You were naughty, but you weren’t. You were you. Even though you received all the attention you so rightly deserved, you still loved the limelight!!! *grin* 

 I’m sure you would love the attention you are gaining now. I know you and all of the northern part of Western Australia heard me ecstatically shout out “Hello beautiful Nanas!!!!!!!!!!!!!” to you, the brightest star in the Universe, last night. I knew you would’ve loved that, which is why I did it.

Precious... thank you for the most wonderful 12 years I have had the pleasure of calling you my best friend. 

I love you. xxxxx

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