County Kerry McGinnis (6/22/98 – 7/16/12)
Sadly, we had to put McGinnis down this past July. He had lost the use of his back legs, his breathing was labored, and he would only eat treats (okay, I can relate to that one). McGinnis was not a GRROWLS dog, but he did go on home visits with me and attend events, so he was a GRROWLS volunteer until we adopted Murphy and the reins were handed over to him. He was a very special dog from the day we brought him home at 8 weeks old and he terrorized his older brother, Kelly (who, at 10 years old, wanted nothing to do with this upstart). When he figured out on day 2 how to slide the screen door open and let himself in, I told Bill he was too smart for us – and I was right. I will miss him stealing my shoes and slippers (for the past 14 years I have had to put my shoes on the dining room table when I took them off) and seeing him walking around with one of Bill’s socks in his mouth. Guests and workmen were not off limits to his shoe stealing either. I will also miss watching him prance around with 4 or 5 toys in his mouth (the more, the merrier). When Tucker died in 2010, I sat down with McGinnis and we formulated 3 goals: (1) He had to live longer than Tucker did (he reached that goal this past May; (2) He had to reach his 14th birthday (he reached that goal on June 22nd); and (3) He had to make it to October 11th when he would become our oldest dog ever (unfortunately, he couldn’t make that goal). Even though we had you for 14 years, you left us much too soon, my sweet Magoo. Our hearts are broken. RIP and run free, my beautiful boy.
Martha Greer