In Loving Memory of BelsBarneyRubble (Barney)     5/1/96 – 2/9/05

Barney first came into Gene and my life when Recycled Racers got a call in late April of 2004, asking the group to take an unwanted 8 year old Greyhound in Canyon City, Colorado.  Barney was not originally placed by Recycled Racers but Sandy Johnson, the adoption coordinator, agreed to claim him, have his vaccinations updated, have his health checked and teeth cleaned, find a foster home for him, and then place him permanently, which of course cost Recycled Racers a chunk of money. I talked to Sandy later and she explained Barney's predicament and I said that my husband Gene and I would drive to pick Barney up.  Soon after picking Barney up, Gene and I talked about adopting Barney.  He was so calm, sweet and gentle and won us over during the long drive back to Denver.  We had originally told Sandy that we were just going to foster Barney, since we already had two other male Greyhounds, and didn't think we were in the market for another one.  But after one week of fostering Barney, I called Sandy up and begged her to let us adopt him.  Barney got along great with our other two senior Greyhounds (Scotch who turned 12 in 5/05 and Duke who turned 14 in 5/05).  Gene and I just couldn't let someone else adopt this sweet Greyhound.  Barney happily lived with us for 9 months; he had no health problems and was so energetic and full of life. In February of 2005, I was hit by a drunk driver and put in the hospital for a few weeks with a broken hip, broken collar bone, broken eye socket and serious brain bleed.  My husband didn't tell me until a week after I had surgery because he didn't want me to be upset, but he had to put Barney to sleep a day after my surgery.  What had happened was so difficult for me to deal with, a few days after I went into the hospital, Barney had collapsed and couldn't get up or move and was unable to eat.  Gene and Sandy Johnson took Barney to the vet and the next day were told by the vets there that Barney was dying most likely of a tumor in his spine.  My dear husband had to make the decision to put Barney down.  I can only imagine how awful and alone Gene must have felt at that point in time.  Gene stayed with Barney and held him during the euthanasia process.  I so wished that I could have held Barney one more time or that I could have been there to whisper in Barney's ear that it was alright and that I loved him and would never forget him. I will never forget when my husband told me about what had happened to Barney.  He hugged me and started sobbing and asked that I forgive him for putting Barney down.  It broke Gene's heart to lose Barney and it broke his heart even more to tell me when I was so sick.  I leaned over from my hospital bed and held Gene and told him he did what had to be done.  I love Gene for being so strong to handle Barney's illness alone and for being so concerned about my health and waiting until I could handle the awful news. We will never forget you Barney.  Even though you were only with us for 9 months, it felt like you lived with us for years and years.  Barney has recently been joined by his friend and house mate Duke at the Rainbow Bridge.  Good bye sweet Barney. Marnie and Gene Grosz and Scotch the Greyhound

For info email Recycled Racers at Greyadopt1@aol.com Marnie Grosz is Director/Adoption Coordinator & Toni Davis is Kennel Manager. RecycledRacers.org web site was designed and is maintained by Marnie Grosz. Copyright  ©  2000 - 2008 Recycled Racers Inc,  All Rights Reserved