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I write you with great sadness to tell you that Token of My Affection passed on Thursday August 30. In May, Token was diagnosed with an osteosarcoma on one of her hips. We were lucky to have four months of quality time during which Token fought the evil disease with the help of an advanced radiation treatment provided at the UW-Madison Veterinary Hospital. During this time Token continued to be the wonderful dog we knew and loved deeply. Over the last two weeks, Token had increasing difficulty moving but continued to eat and wag her tail but the cancer spread to one of her front legs and spots appeared on her lungs. We tried another round of radiation treatment, but her mobility was gone and when I watched her squat to urinate and witnessed her collapsing, I knew it was time to end her pain before she lost her dignity. I spent the night with her outside where she hardly moved and knew the difficult decision was correct. Our vet came to our home and removed her pain as she lay in one of her favorite shady spots on our patio. As I write this the tears come back but I know it was the right thing to do for such a special soul. Token would have been 13 in November; she lived a full wonderful life right to the end.
Token was an amazingly sweet dog that epitomized the breed standard; “…sweetness of temperament is the hallmark of the breed.” She was sweet in the extreme; on our walks she would gently veer toward people as they approached so they had to pet her. Most people stopped to pet her and smiled as she slowly wagged her tail while they petted her. It never failed to warm my heart. When we came home from work she and Lewis, our other Newf, would greet us; Lewis with a toy or a towel, making the funniest barking, growling, woo-wooing sounds as Token stood wagging her entire rear end. I already miss those greetings though Lewis continues his enthusiastic greeting but something big is missing.
She was with us for almost exactly seven years after retiring from motherhood at a wonderful breeder. Her time with us filled our home and hearts with a deep love and devotion that few are fortunate enough to know. The family that decided not to take her when the breeder retired her proved a blessing for us. She adapted to living with us quickly seeking out human attention and human food, her two great passions. At the dog park, she preferred the company of people, not other dogs though if she thought Lewis was playing too hard she would chase him and cut him off from the other dogs. Occasionally, she and Lewis would play but Token’s real love was people. It felt as though she wanted to make up for the limited human contact she’d had while she with the breeder though I know the breeder loves her dogs deeply. It was just different for when Token could be the center of human attention with a family and other people around her.
Our decision to get another Newfie was influenced by the Newf Net community who encouraged us, coaching us through the transition. The advice and encouragement was instrumental in helping us bring Token into our home. It was an honor Ellen and I took very seriously. With both kids out of our house (our son is living in New York City and daughter is in college in Washington, DC) Token and Lewis have been a huge part of our lives over the last six years and she is missed in a profound way. While we’re very sad at her passing, I have a lot of great memories and see her in my minds’ eye looking up at me with her warm brown eyes, wagging her tail and exuding sweetness. She had many nicknames, Brown Eyed Girl, Tokenator, but the nickname I will always remember her by is Super Sweety Pie. I’d call her that as I scratched her chest and she wagged her tail, thumping reassuringly against the floor or the walls. We’ll miss the sound of her drinking from the toilet, her snoring contentedly on the cool tile floor of the bathroom off our bedroom and stealing a pet/scratch whenever I walked by. She filled our home and hearts with a special love that is unique to Newfoundlands.
Token will always hold a special place for us. I can’t thank the folks on Newf Net enough for the encouragement to bring Token into our home.
If the Newfs in your homes bring your families the joy, happiness, and love that Token brought, and Lewis continues to give our family, you should know that Newf Net is making a difference in people’s lives. I could go on about what Token meant to us. She was way more than a Token of My Affection.
I hope this note finds the families of the Newf Net community well and that your wonderful dogs continue to bring the unique love of these wonderful souls to you and yours. Their presence is a singular blessing. They are truly special.
Always remember what Gary Donohue, Newf Nets’ creator said: “Hug your dogs often. Their time with us is always too short.”
Warmest Regards,
Barry Perkel and Family
Token was an amazingly sweet dog that epitomized the breed standard; “…sweetness of temperament is the hallmark of the breed.” She was sweet in the extreme; on our walks she would gently veer toward people as they approached so they had to pet her. Most people stopped to pet her and smiled as she slowly wagged her tail while they petted her. It never failed to warm my heart. When we came home from work she and Lewis, our other Newf, would greet us; Lewis with a toy or a towel, making the funniest barking, growling, woo-wooing sounds as Token stood wagging her entire rear end. I already miss those greetings though Lewis continues his enthusiastic greeting but something big is missing.
She was with us for almost exactly seven years after retiring from motherhood at a wonderful breeder. Her time with us filled our home and hearts with a deep love and devotion that few are fortunate enough to know. The family that decided not to take her when the breeder retired her proved a blessing for us. She adapted to living with us quickly seeking out human attention and human food, her two great passions. At the dog park, she preferred the company of people, not other dogs though if she thought Lewis was playing too hard she would chase him and cut him off from the other dogs. Occasionally, she and Lewis would play but Token’s real love was people. It felt as though she wanted to make up for the limited human contact she’d had while she with the breeder though I know the breeder loves her dogs deeply. It was just different for when Token could be the center of human attention with a family and other people around her.
Our decision to get another Newfie was influenced by the Newf Net community who encouraged us, coaching us through the transition. The advice and encouragement was instrumental in helping us bring Token into our home. It was an honor Ellen and I took very seriously. With both kids out of our house (our son is living in New York City and daughter is in college in Washington, DC) Token and Lewis have been a huge part of our lives over the last six years and she is missed in a profound way. While we’re very sad at her passing, I have a lot of great memories and see her in my minds’ eye looking up at me with her warm brown eyes, wagging her tail and exuding sweetness. She had many nicknames, Brown Eyed Girl, Tokenator, but the nickname I will always remember her by is Super Sweety Pie. I’d call her that as I scratched her chest and she wagged her tail, thumping reassuringly against the floor or the walls. We’ll miss the sound of her drinking from the toilet, her snoring contentedly on the cool tile floor of the bathroom off our bedroom and stealing a pet/scratch whenever I walked by. She filled our home and hearts with a special love that is unique to Newfoundlands.
Token will always hold a special place for us. I can’t thank the folks on Newf Net enough for the encouragement to bring Token into our home.
If the Newfs in your homes bring your families the joy, happiness, and love that Token brought, and Lewis continues to give our family, you should know that Newf Net is making a difference in people’s lives. I could go on about what Token meant to us. She was way more than a Token of My Affection.
I hope this note finds the families of the Newf Net community well and that your wonderful dogs continue to bring the unique love of these wonderful souls to you and yours. Their presence is a singular blessing. They are truly special.
Always remember what Gary Donohue, Newf Nets’ creator said: “Hug your dogs often. Their time with us is always too short.”
Warmest Regards,
Barry Perkel and Family
