Saying goodbye
to a best friend
Bart
1998-2011
The Red Bud is in bloom outside the kitchen window this Saturday before Easter, as we say goodbye to our “Best Bud Bart.” We couldn’t have asked for a more loving companion to join our family over 12 years ago. His many aliases included Bart the Dog, Barticus, Bartimus Maximus, B-Doggie, Bartis Dogis, Beebop a Reebop and Buddy. Named after Bart Simpson, he certainly had a deviish and mischievous side to him as a puppy, leaving his mark on everything from scratches on doors, chewed carpet, couches and eaten pillows to name only a few. He could get the squeaker out of dog toy in record time, after ripping the face off of countless stuffed squirrels, rabbits and monkeys. Most people asked if he was a mix since he was a long-haired German Shepard, but to those who know him he was a mix of big bark and gentle soul. A constant traveler who loved road trips to the Grand Lake and Poudre Canyon cabins, he was known to have chased lots of wildlife in his career, being bloodied by a fox, and crazy enough to attempt running down a bull moose. Trying to tell him that being kicked in the head by such a large beast wouldn’t be a good thing didn’t seem to phase him.
He loved to wrestle with Nick and Alex, torment the cats, fish in the river with Jim and accompany mom everywhere she went. He should have been the mascot for Starbuck’s as he added to the ambiance of many of their outdoor patios for “coffee with Mo.” Lots and lots of walks around the lake took place with Karen and Petey as they discussed numerous dog topics and sniffed out the best stinky spots around. We all experienced good luck in finding the Geiser family, Susan, Paul, Jeff and Nichole, who became Bart’s home away from home for the past ten years. They loved him as their own and we never had a worry about leaving him when we were out of town or the two days a week that he stayed there with his girlfriend Kylie. I know he returned the love, and his life would not have been as rich without them in it.
We held in our arms today as the blue-eyed angel named Jennifer helped him take those first steps into his next journey where we imagine him running in fields with his old day-care pals Shelby, Toby and his cat-brother Gusto.
Goodbye Sweet Bart. We will miss you every day and give thanks that you shared your unconditional love with us for all these memorable years.
Susie & Jim Sell