"There are a lot of ways in which I remember my friend Mike - funny, opinionated, intolerant of stupidity or meanness, demanding of himself and others - also brave, caring and totally smitten with the dogs in his life.

      I know that Mike really liked Whimsey, my old golden retriever who came to work with me. She adored him, especially because Mike always dropped a handful of treats on the floor for her, rather than just the one I gave to her.

      When Whimsey died, Mike was immediately ready to help me find another dog to fill the empty canine space in my life. I told him that I wasn't really ready to do that and his response was just to let him know when I was.

       Several months went by. During that time, Cindy Rubin was involved in raising several pups for a friend and occasionally brought them to the barn.

      The second pup -Junior- really stole my heart when I met him in December, and I asked Cindy to check with her friend to see if Junior was available.

      The answer came back that no, the breeder wanted to keep him. I was disappointed, but assumed that it was a final answer. Apparently, Mike had never considered the idea of a final answer that he disagreed with. Over the next couple of months in collusion with Cindy and pretty much without my knowledge, he wore down any resistance that the breeder had.

      I’m not quite sure what the final straw was, but the breeder finally agreed to sell Junior to Mike.

      One afternoon in April Mike, Cindy and Jayne appeared in the office with Junior. Mike grinned and announced that Junior was mine and would be going home with me.

      I remember being completely overwhelmed and saying something to the effect of  "Mike, you can't do that - It's way too much!"

      At that moment, Mike just looked at me, grinned again, straightened his shoulders and said, and “I can do anything I want".

      I turned to Jayne for a little support.  Her reaction was - "Don't look at me - I'm the one who rides Ghandi!"

      So I now have in my life a most special companion - one who shares his joy with everyone he meets and who reminds me daily of the generosity of a very unique friend.

      Thank you Mike.

     "Mike and Ghandi apart, but even more so together had a commanding, no nonsense presence. One of the funniest things I have ever seen, but primarily heard was while Mike would be tacking up or un-tacking Ghandi. On the cross ties that magnificent Ghandi would flap his lips making one of the goofiest sounds and visions I have ever seen.  

      I think it was his way of blowing raspberries at Mike. It has been a while since I have heard that joyously silly sound and I miss it."

                                                                                              Jennifer Roy