Tolkien
A donation was made in memory of Tolkien by Doctors and Staff of the not recorded on Apr 23, 2009.
We lost our Bernese Mountain Dog, Tolkien, on March 7, 2009. Tolkien was born in Cove, OR at the base of the Eagle Caps Mountains. We got him when he was about 5 months old and he spent the rest of his 11 years at our home in Kennewick, WA. He quickly took over our back yard, the kitchen, the spare bedroom, and the back of our Toyota 4-Runner. He loved his backyard and would lay out there during a snowfall, allowing snow to accumulate on his back. When he would notice the neighbors having a barbeque, he was always invited to join in where he would enjoy "special" snacks.
We have a vacation home on the Oregon coast and he loved the beach. When I would begin loading the car, he always knew it was time to go to the beach. He had his trip bed in the back and would make a beeline for the car and jump in. He jumped in too quickly one time and I had to get him out so I could finish packing. It was the only time he growled at me - he was ready to go and that was that.
The kitchen was a favorite of his. He was a counter prowler and also loved to stick his big black nose in the refrigerator when the door was open. We had to put any meat to be thawed in the sink so he wouldn't get it. Once, while preparing a holiday dinner, Anne forgot and left a pre-cooked ham on the counter before re-heating it. She came back in the kitchen and the ham was gone. We finally found it (and Tolkien) in a dark corner of the den. He would take a bite and then stare at it as if he could not believe his good fortune. Anne carved the damaged area off the ham, heated and served it - no one was the wiser. He loved to lick the electric mixer blades when Anne was finished making up cake batter. As soon as he heard the mixer start he would be there waiting for his treat, which he, reluctantly, shared with me.
We purchased a Papillion puppy about 7 years ago, and she and Tolkien became great friends. Since Papillions are alarm barkers, Tinka would lay on the back of the sofa in front of our large front room window and sound the alarm when any animal or human would come past our yard. Tolkien would come charging out of the spare bedroom and join in the barking. We never worried about anyone trying to break in because he had a loud and viscious sounding bark. Although, when friends would drop by he was always there to get the expected attention.
He watched over Tinka when she was outside. Papillions are cautious little dogs because of their size. Before she went out in the backyard late at night she would always roust him from the spare bedroom to go out with her. He would sit out there and wait until she was ready to come back in for bedtime. During his last few years he was always the perfect old gentleman dog with a lot of dignity characteristic of his breed. He was a neighborhood favorite, with his constantly wagging happy-tail. Our groomer would say that when he was on the grooming table, his tail never stopped wagging. We still miss him quite a lot and Tinka doesn't bark as much anymore.
Wally and Anne W.
We have a vacation home on the Oregon coast and he loved the beach. When I would begin loading the car, he always knew it was time to go to the beach. He had his trip bed in the back and would make a beeline for the car and jump in. He jumped in too quickly one time and I had to get him out so I could finish packing. It was the only time he growled at me - he was ready to go and that was that.
The kitchen was a favorite of his. He was a counter prowler and also loved to stick his big black nose in the refrigerator when the door was open. We had to put any meat to be thawed in the sink so he wouldn't get it. Once, while preparing a holiday dinner, Anne forgot and left a pre-cooked ham on the counter before re-heating it. She came back in the kitchen and the ham was gone. We finally found it (and Tolkien) in a dark corner of the den. He would take a bite and then stare at it as if he could not believe his good fortune. Anne carved the damaged area off the ham, heated and served it - no one was the wiser. He loved to lick the electric mixer blades when Anne was finished making up cake batter. As soon as he heard the mixer start he would be there waiting for his treat, which he, reluctantly, shared with me.
We purchased a Papillion puppy about 7 years ago, and she and Tolkien became great friends. Since Papillions are alarm barkers, Tinka would lay on the back of the sofa in front of our large front room window and sound the alarm when any animal or human would come past our yard. Tolkien would come charging out of the spare bedroom and join in the barking. We never worried about anyone trying to break in because he had a loud and viscious sounding bark. Although, when friends would drop by he was always there to get the expected attention.
He watched over Tinka when she was outside. Papillions are cautious little dogs because of their size. Before she went out in the backyard late at night she would always roust him from the spare bedroom to go out with her. He would sit out there and wait until she was ready to come back in for bedtime. During his last few years he was always the perfect old gentleman dog with a lot of dignity characteristic of his breed. He was a neighborhood favorite, with his constantly wagging happy-tail. Our groomer would say that when he was on the grooming table, his tail never stopped wagging. We still miss him quite a lot and Tinka doesn't bark as much anymore.
Wally and Anne W.
