Memorial Babe

It is with profound sadness that we share the sudden and unexpected passing of our beloved dog, Babe, a cherished member not only of our family but also of the Brookline Rescue family.

Babe came into the rescue as a homeless puppy from Mississippi, along with his brother, Benji. From the moment he arrived, Babe captured hearts, especially that of our son, who quickly decided to “foster fail” and make Babe his own. Our son wanted a hunting dog, and as luck would have it, Babe excelled at hunting.

Babe truly loved pheasant and duck hunting and lived for those special outings with his boy. After every hunting trip, Babe would proudly sit tall and still for a photo, posing beside the day’s catch with unmistakable pride shining in his eyes.

One day, our son took Babe for a walk in the woods. Babe, full of energy, ran ahead and soon disappeared from sight. As the evening grew darker, our son became worried and called a truckload of friends to help search for Babe. A short while later, the search was called off because Babe circled back to the very spot where their walk had begun, waiting patiently by the water tower. The next day, Babe was fitted with a shiny new collar which contained a GPS tracking device!

In our house, everyone has a nickname, and Babe was known as both “Babers” and “Dave.” The nickname “Dave” came about thanks to one of our son’s hunting buddies. One day, when they arrived at their hunting spot, the friend asked, “Is Dave coming with us?” Confused, our son replied, “Who’s Dave?” The friend was confused as to why our son didn’t know who he was talking about and said in a  disbelieving manner, “You know, Dave, your dog sitting in your truck!” From that day on, Babe was also affectionately known as Dave.

Whenever family or friends came to our house, the very first thing Babe would do was snatch a sneaker or shoe and trot proudly around the house with it. We believe that Babe was showing off, his way of saying, “Look everyone, I’m a great hunting dog!”

Part German Shepherd and part Labrador Retriever, Babe was 100% Alpha Dog. And boy was he smart! In obedience school, Babe won an award for Best in Tricks. His trainer commented on Babe’s intelligence as when tasked with navigating a maze, Babe simply knocked down part of the fence to reach the hidden object faster.

Another fond memory we have of Babe is that he enjoyed swimming, even in our above ground swimming pool! The pool stood 4 feet tall, but that didn’t stop him as he’d take a running start and jump onto our trampoline and then into the pool.  After paddling around for a while, he’d climb up to the top of the ladder, jump back onto the ground, and race around to the other side just so he could dive in again. It was his own personal game of splash-and-dash!

Babe’s loyalty was everything anyone could ever hope for in a dog. Every day like clockwork, at exactly 3:30 p.m., he would sit by the window, waiting patiently for his boy to come home from work, never late, nor distracted, and always ready for his boy!

Babe was what the “female human of the house” called a true “man’s dog.” While Babe liked “the female human,” his favorite companions were always his human boys. And when Babe’s human boys were out of the house, the “female human of the house” would have to do. It was during these times when Babe graciously allowed the “female human” to give him belly rubs and extra treats! When the boys returned he couldn’t be bothered with the “female human!”

Always ready for an adventure, Babe loved going anywhere and everywhere! He didn’t know where he was headed, and he didn’t care, all that mattered was that he was going somewhere in the truck. The moment the door opened, he’d tear outside and jump right in, ready to roll! During the ride, Babe was always on the lookout for the deer that would cross our road. And when Babe wasn’t allowed to come along, the dejected look on his face said it all.

Like most dogs, Babe wasn’t too fond of the vet’s office and was known to hide behind his owner during appointments. But a few weeks ago, when his sister Sweetie became ill and needed emergency surgery to remove a mass on her spleen, Babe’s “love over fear” shone through. Knowing Sweetie might not make it through the surgery, we brought Babe to the vet to see her in case it would be the last time the dogs would see each other. When brought to the vet’s office, Babe charged through the doors with one mission: to comfort his sister. That day revealed Babe’s remarkable emotional depth as he put aside his own fear to be by his sister, showing a compassion few humans ever achieve.

Babe had just turned five years old when he was found unresponsive by his family, a life cut far too short. Some say that dogs instinctively go off on their own when it’s their time to spare their families the pain of witnessing their passing. True to his nature, even in his final moments, Babe protected those he loved. He had been perfectly well that morning, and while his family was away from home for an hour, he passed outside in the yard.

Five years is a short life, even for a dog. But Babe lived every moment to the fullest, packing a lifetime of love and happiness into those few years. During that time, our family was truly blessed to share our lives with such an incredible soul—one who brought us immeasurable joy and unconditional love. A tennis-ball fetcher extraordinaire and a loyal friend he is deeply missed, but forever in our hearts.

Scott and Yana Irwin