Farewell my best mate Badger

[budeboy]

MY TRIBUTE TO OUR HANDSOME JRT "BADGER"

My best friend and companion for the last sixteen years died in his sleep in the early hours of this morning, whilst in his basket beside our bed.
No fuss, not even a sound, such a sweet and sad goodbye from a truely wonderful JRTerrier who we nicknamed "our warty boy" on account of his lumps and bumps.
He had become almost totally blind with cataracts, was completely deaf, and although eating and drinking well, he had developed dementure.

It is ironic that this day...the 18th May was also my Dad's Birthday, and if he was still alive, he would have been 100

We purchased him as a few months old pup from a farm in North Cornwall almost 16 years ago. My wife Christine had wanted a dog all her life, and this was to be her first. Well she could not have picked a better companion.He was forever with us, and travelled all over the country with us......always the clown, we laughed and cried many a time at his naughtiness and antics.

All our family and freinds will always remember our Badger as a "people" and "animal" dog.He loved everyone he met, with never a cross word or bark for anyone .Indeed no sooner any of my children or grand children were through the front door, he was on their lap for kisses and cuddles, and stuck there like a limpet
He loved all other dogs and especially horses, which he would often meet on his sand frolics on the local beach

He said a sad goodbye to his soul sister JRT "Ellie" who left for the bridge with lung cancer almost 4 years to the day on the 16th May 2007
We then introduced "Jenny" into our home, adopted from Eileen and the FOA only a few months after
From day one he absolutely idolised her, and they were inseperable....even sleeping in the same bed together
Many of you will have seen my posting in March on the first anniversary of Jenny's passing on the 3rd March 2010 due to a massive stroke.

Our hearts are breaking as I write this tribute to our special boy...our first and maybe our last Jack Russell. In exactly 4 years almost to the day we have lost our 3 Jacks....three wonderful dogs with characters, and memories that will live on with us forever

Sweet dreams dear Badger.....your two playmates will be waiting for you on the other side of the bridge. Look after each other
until the day we will all be together again.My Dad, who loved dogs, will be waiting there also, to take all three of you on long sunlight walks through the meadows of happiness

God bless you Badger for enriching our lives
God bless you Dad for teaching me my love and respect for animals from the moment I could walk and talk, and which has remained with me throughout my life

Love Mummy & Daddy (Christine & Ronnie)
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[redgypsy]

I am so sorry to read that Badger has gone to the bridge, but reading what you have said about him he has had a wonderful life and he went over the bridge with love and peace in his heart.. Run Free little man you had a great life and will always be loved and remembered.

Glenice.

[sue]

Such a lovely tribute to Badger. I can't see the screen through tears.

What a wonderful life he had with you, and you with him.

How lovely that he fell asleep besides you in his own bed too, as our dogs get older, we all hope that they will go peacefully in their sleep in their own homes,but it doesn't happen that way very often.

You will miss him, but you have 16 years of wonderful memories that will be with you forever.

Badger sounded a wonderful dog.

Sleep tight Badger, and hugs for your lovely family

Sue xx

[chris123]

Oh, Ronnie, my heart goes out to you and Christine.

In some ways it helps to know that they have had a long and happy life - in others, it just hurts so much more to lose a companion who has been part of your life for so long.

I used to meet you regularly at Gordano, on transport runs, and I know that Badger will have had the best life that any dog could have had.

Take care, both of you,

Chris xxx

[mickyzoe]

What a beautiful tribute, I have tears streaming down my face, im so sorry you have lost dear badger, but what a wonderful way for him to pass, peacefully in his bed beside yours.

Sweet dreams dear Badger xxxxx

[eileenjones]

Roniie I am heartbroken for you, Christine and all your family. I know what a very special little man Badger was and how he was a very important member of your family.

There are no words that I can say that will make it easier except that you gave Badger 16 years of total love and commitment. If only that could be true for all dogs. You were lucky to find him but how lucky was he to have found you.

How wonderful that he was able to leave for the bridge without any help and I am sure he is there now with Ellie and Jenny having lots of fun.

[wagtails]

Holding you all in our hearts, Ronnie and Christine.

The love you gave Badger just shines through your lovely tribute and his devotion to you and your family couldn't have been deeper.

Sleep tight, beautiful boy.

[mc53]

My thoughts go to you both, I bet he was a real little character, how lovely he went so peacefully in his own bed.

We had to have Zebedee our little Papillion PTS 3 weeks ago, we are both still in shock as it was all so quick, he was 13 but we had expected him to be with us another year or so, he did go peacefully on the settee but we had to make the heartbreaking decision.

I hope you still have the company of another little friend, this is the first time in my life that I have lived without a dog as before when one has passed on the routine has had to continue with the other dog. We came down to Cornwall last week but we were lost, being just the 2 of us.

M

[eileenspal]

I am so sad for you, Ronnie and Chris, we knew how much your Badger meant to you.
It is, as everyone has said, a lovely way to go to the bridge, asleep in his bed besides yours.
He had a wonderful life with you both and will be missed always, but you have 16 years of wonderful memories that will unfold over the coming weeks.

Badger is now well and having fun with Ellie and Jenny, taking a walk with your Dad in the sunshine.

RIP dear Badger, a dear friend xx

[dousslesh]

So sorry- you must miss Badger terribly. What a lovely, peaceful , gentle way to leave for the bridge though.
There is only one thing worse than the awful pain of losing a much loved dog and that would be to have never had the joy of sharing their lives at all. The tears and laughter, the love and devotion, the inevitable, horrible ache of loss; a sad price worth paying.
Enjoy yourself at the bridge Badger, Your mum and dad will have some wonderful memories of you to hold onto, until you meet again.
Gentle hugs to you both .
Lesley

[smallestbean]

Thinking of you at this sad time. Love Andrea xxxx

[ilovemycookie]

Ronnie and Christine
I am so sorry to hear of Badgers passing and have been thinking about you since you first posted the sad news. I echo everyone elses thoughts about the wonderful life he had with you both.
Run free handsome lad and have fun at the Bridge

Katherine
XXX

[maryegiles]

What a beautiful tribute to a dog so obviously loved! Sleep well on the bridge old chap! Mary x