Rest In Peace Barney

**lizbud** · 08-19-2003, 08:17 PM

This notice in Indy's morning paper saddened me & many
many people who got to know this sweet little beagle who came
to be quite a crowd pleaser and instant hit with people wherever
he went. He was the sweetest dog and just loved people.

R.I.P. Barney

WISH-TV's 'little bandit' Barney dies at 14

"Daybreak" personality Dick Wolfsie poses with his faithful beagle, Barney, who died in his sleep Friday. -- Frank Espich / The Star

By T.J. Banes
[email protected]
August 19, 2003

Dick Wolfsie jokes that many television viewers remembered his dog's name before they remembered his.

Barney, Wolfsie's beloved beagle, died in his sleep Friday. He was 14.

Wolfsie, who appears on WISH-TV (Channel 8)'s morning news program "Daybreak," found the dog on his doorstep in 1991. When Wolfsie left for work the next morning, the dog howled so much that Wolfsie's wife said the only way he could keep the dog was to take him to work. Since then, Barney has appeared in 3,000 TV shows and numerous commercials for six companies.

"Whoever coined the phrase 'man's best friend,' at one time or another, must have met Barney," said Scott Hainey, director of Creative Services at WISH-TV. "He loved the camera and loved his fans, and both will miss him very much."

Many people have Barney stories. Wolfsie's friend Dan Frost shared one: At a special event at Hoosier Park, the Anderson horse racing track, Barney got a little too frisky with a standardbred trotter named Talk to Me Baby, who sent a mighty kick just over the dog's head.

Wolfsie remembers one time when Barney was brought back in handcuffs after being caught red-handed with a chicken in his mouth from Marsh Supermarket.

"He wasn't a good dog; he was a bad dog. Always howling, eating and doing something he wasn't supposed to do," said Wolfsie. But "he touched many lives. He was the little bandit in everybody."

Wolfsie said he will eventually get another dog, most likely a beagle, and will sign autographs with two paw prints so people will never forget Barney.

Call Star reporter T.J. Banes at 1-317-444-6815.

**anna_66** · 08-20-2003, 07:44 AM

R.I.P. Barney

**tatsxxx11** · 08-20-2003, 08:12 AM

What a precious little Beagle boy

And what happiness he brought to this world.

Truly "man's best friend." Rest in peace, sweet Barney.

**pitc9** · 08-20-2003, 08:30 AM

RIP Barney..... what a wonderful life it sounds like he had!!

**sammi** · 08-20-2003, 03:54 PM

Run and play free at the bridge Barney - you will be missed.

**Sudilar** · 08-21-2003, 09:57 PM

What an exciting life you led, Barney! I hope you have wonderful adventures at Rainbow Bridge. RIP, Barney.

**lizbud** · 08-22-2003, 11:46 AM

Barney sure picked the right house to hang out that day
long ago.

Indy people got to see this little pup grow up on
TV & personal appearances he made with his" adopted" Dad.
The Wolfsie family never knew were this little guy came from,
but it all turned out good for everyone, Barney included. He was
such a sweet & lovable character. R,I.P. little Barney.