Memory Thread for Phred.

[captain]

My first Phred encounter was Cinder wants to keep the stray she found,

OMGoodness, it still makes me laugh ....

I loved reading his posts, and even tho they got a little less as the years went by, they sure were fantastic.
I loved getting the Christmas cards each year, and reading his special message on the back - I have kept every one

One in a million Phred, truly you were.
Love
M

P.S. If you want to come back and visit me on this big ol dirt ball, feel free. We never met, but I wished we had ...

[lizbud]

I remember when I went to my first Pet Talk meeting in Findley, Phred
was so patient with me, giving directions to the Park, helping me with maps
etc,etc. I seem to be directionally challenged & can't make more than two turns
before I become hopelessly lost & can't tell North from South.

I was pretty nervous going so far from home & not really "knowing" anyone
except throught cyber messages, but Phred was like a rock with a soothing
calm about him & never got upset with me. By the time I arrived, I felt pretty
much at home & very welcome there. Smokey & I had a great time.

[kb2yjx]

I was on the pet t candles and clicked one of the candles, and what a shock to read the message that Phred was gone!!! He was one special fellow!!! Sleep softly dear Phred...

[AdoreMyDogs]

I first met Phred back in '03 I believe, at the Findlay gathering. I remember Graham, my sweet little dog, took an immdediate liking to Phred. Graham would sit his little butt down in front of Phred, and his little stubble tail would be wagging @ 100 mph, carving a little "tail angel" in the dirt. Phred was so charmed by Graham, and the feeling was mutual. He'd dip his hand into his treat bag, pull out a cookie for Graham, Graham would give a little bark and beg for another. Phred would just laugh and kept giving him one after another. I had to tell Phred that Graham was going to get diarrhea from all the cookies. Phred could NOT say no to Graham. Seriously, his heart was so full of love that he had to keep that doggie of mine happy.

I only went to a few PT gatherings, but as soon as I took the dogs to the dog area, Graham scoped out Phred, sat in front of him, and started making tail angels in the dirt staring up at Phred and begging the way he knew Phred could not resist. I got a kick out of how much Graham loved Phred, and also how hard Graham's persistant attention was hard for Phred to resist. He was such an adorable man.

I will never forget a few years ago, Quinn was a baby, and my sister-in-law picked up this little basset/beagle puppy that was dumped in a bad neighborhood, and he was litterely in the middle of the road. Phred helped orchestrate "Woody's" big plane trip from here to his new home in PA. I could not have done it without his help. We ran into all kinds of problems with the airlines while trying to fly Woody to PA, and Phred would talk to the right people and use the right tone of voice and, with his persistant, tenacious help, we FINALLY were able to fly Woody to PA. He was one tough cookie with the softest, most gentle spirit.

I wish he was not gone. I can't even stand the thought of never reading his delightful posts. I am so deeply moved that he wanted some ashes to be spread at Findlay Dog Park. He had such an impact on all of us, but we, also, had a huge, life-changing impact on him. I'm glad to have known him.

[Karen]

Too many memories to decide which ones to write down right away.

Arriving at the dog park in Findlay, and he was often there before us. Cinder and Smoke would be tied to that tree while he got all the supplies out, and when we got there, we'd greet him and them, but sometimes if we humans were talking, the dogs felt ignore and would chime in! "Awww, hush!" he'd tell them.

We'd also be the last ones to leave with him - as we drove out and stayed in Findlay overnight - and we'd keep on talking for almost ever, just sitting and chatting while everything got packed up. Even the first time we met in person, we were already old friends.

Many, many times we'd talk on the phone, when some issue or another came up. And when he was hospitalized last year, I remember calling the hospital to talk to him, and when the woman somewhat formally asked "Are you a relative?" I replied, "Well, he often calls me 'Mom....' even though he's older than me ... " and she was surprised, laughed and put me through to him without any further questions. He got a chuckle when I told him how I got through.

So many people he helped, just because he could. His "how to post pictures" thread is where I have pointed countless newcomers. Late night phone calls, contacting resources for folks, and of course, he was the "junior moderator" when Paul and I went to China for a week in 2001. He did a fine job, but worried too much that something was gonna go wrong on his watch, so was not upset when we 'demoted' him after we got back and things settled back down.

He will be missed, but then again, he is such a part of this community that he will still be here, in his funny posts, and in all our memories, for years and years to come.