For the first time since it’s inception, Barking Dog Organic Farm is without a barking dog. We lost our precious Luke this week, after a short illness. He was just 8 years old.
Luke took his job as Chief Barking Dog quite seriously, but he took his job of loving us even more seriously. He had his quirks, fears and phobias, but he was the most loving dog with us ever. Sometimes he liked to be off on his own, but mostly he wanted to be next to us. He loved to give and receive kisses.
Luke enjoyed chipmunk hunting and watching TV (and barking at any animals – or people acting weirdly – on the TV). He loved food and was an unrepentant counter surfer. He loved stuffed toys that he could destroy, and his favorite treat toy was his West Paw Quizl. We filled that with peanut butter and treats whenever he had to be left home alone. Thankfully, that wasn’t very much lately since his Dad retired, and I know he was happy to have Dad home with him more.
He took lots of walks in our woods with both me and his Dad, and he loved sniffing for wildlife that had passed through. He left his own marks to let them know those were his woods!
Luke had a lot of fears and one was of strangers. The one person he bonded with other than us was my sister, Lynn, but other than her his world was small. We did our best to make that small world as happy as possible for him, and I think he was content to be a homebody just like his Mom and Dad.
We are devastated and heartbroken and the house is too empty and quiet without him. He left his farm birds behind to make a racket outside and ease up some of that quiet. He wasn’t allowed to play with his birds since he got too rough, but he used to love to run along his fence with the guinea fowl!
He joins his sisters Cricket, Sheba, and feline Samantha at the Rainbow Bridge, and his brother Kobi who taught him everything he could in the few months they had together before Kobi passed. He’s also meeting other canine siblings Moses, Maggie, and Shelby and too many cats to name that came before him. He had quite the welcoming committee and we know he’s in good paws.
♥ RIP Luke 10/27/2013 – 5/30/2022 ♥
This loss has hit Luke’s Dad and me hard. Being an only dog, Luke got all our love and affection, and I think having no other furry companions to console us now is making it tougher. We felt Luke wanted to be an only dog. Even though that might not have been our first choice, we wanted nothing more than to make him as happy as possible.
I cannot express enough what a loving dog he was with us. The love and companionship he gave us far outweighed any of the difficulties we had because of his fears.
The neighbors, UPS truck, and FedEx truck now drive by with no one to let us know. Thank goodness for the crazy guinea hens who are at least making noise outside. The house is too quiet and empty. There is no one to lick the plates or get the last bite of whatever we eat. Our coming and going from the house is without fanfare. When the time is right, we will rectify that, as we know Luke and his angel siblings would want that for us.
I will continue to blog about the farm, I’m overdue for an update on the latest newbie chickens, but they are doing well! Luke enjoyed watching them grow up while they were still in the house. ♥
Oh Luke ~ so sad to lose you ~ it hurts deeply to lose our fur babies ~ lots of love and hugs to you ~ Wonderful post and tribute for Luke ~ Xo
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Thank you so much. ♥
Oh Jan we are so sorry :'( but also so thankful we got to know sweet Luke through your blog. He sure did have lots of adventures even though he was a homebody. We know all too well the quiet and emptiness this brings to your home and will be praying for comfort for ya’ll.
xoxo,
Matilda & Mama
So deeply sorry of the loss of your purrecious Luke. Fly free beautiful Soul✨
Soft Pawkisses to comfort you🐾😽💞
I didn’t know Luke, but he sounds like a wonderful fellow. Some dogs and cats prefer just a very few humans; they are quite happy with that, and Luke was clearly happy with his small family. He will be barking up a storm when he meets you again. Godspeed, Luke.
This makes me so sad. He was such a good boy, and I know how dearly you miss him. May his memory be a blessing.
Deer Luke’ss Meowmy an PawPaw wee BellaDharma an BellaSita Mum come from THE Purrfect Pad bloggie.
Wee saw on Dalton an Benji’ss blogie had lost yore precious LUKE Poochie!
Wee are so furry furry sorry an wanted to give youss’ are sinseerest Sympaffiess on your loss…
Luke was too young to have to leeve.
All your beeloved 4 leggedss are twogether watchin over youss’ now.
May all yore memoreess an fotoss an bloggiess bee a comfert two you both…..
***purrss*** BellaDharma an gentell (((hugss))) BellaSita Mum
I simply cannot hit the ‘Like” button on this post-I’m so very sorry for your loss. May the passage of time bring happy memories instead of today’s present sorrows. Sending you gentle thoughts of comfort. 💔
I’m very sorry to hear of the loss of your Luke. I know how hard it is to lose an animal friend.
our tears are running…. we agree…an empty house is just a house when the one is gone who made it to a home .. hugs to you we are so sorry….
No words to describe the sadness at the loss of Luke-I am heartbroken for you, Jan and Tom. I am the lucky one to have had Luke’s love as well, and so glad I saw him a couple of times this year. I enjoyed my couple of pet sitting stays with him over the years. Many kisses and hugs were exchanged in our last encounters! But this is a wonderful tribute you have given him, Jan, telling the many ways he was just an awesome boy!
While it was a challenge for you given his shyness of strangers, and so many were not happy Luke wouldn’t love them!-You couldn’t be more right that he was so very happy in his small world-you and Tom were all he needed. A loving home and treated wonderfully, could not make for a happier boy. And he had a little sibling love early on he enjoyed, right?!
So it was a great life that Luke had, and the wonderful years you shared with him were your treasures-that hopefully someday you will only look back on with happy memories, and not feel the great sadness you do now.
I feel for your extra sadness and emptiness though, as a house without a dog or cat is not the normal for you at all! I am glad you do have those crazy, silly birds though, and hope they help you through this tremendous loss.
I love you Jan and Tom, and send you all the hugs in the world-and sending my Lukey love and glad he is at peace, and with all those wonderful siblings. I can see them all romping around together now, sharing their beloved stories of the most wonderful humans they could ever have been lucky enough to have love them and take care of them!
So sorry that Luke has gone. Sending much love and hugs x
Luke sounds like he was an amzing fur baby fur ya’. we’re sorry fur your loss. We’re sending hugs and purrayers.
Luvs ya’
RaenaBelle and Zebby
I am so sorry. I loved reading about Luke’s adventures and growth into the sweetheart that he is. I’m just devastated – especially for you.
I don’t know what to say he was just a good dog and I loved reading about him. You had him two years less than when I got Dolly so can’t imagine your grief. My heart is breaking for you. Sandra and Dolly
I am so sorry. I will miss your walking stories with Luke. Sending prayers your way.
I am so, so sorry to read about your loss, Jan. I always enjoyed reading about Luke’s life with you all. Sending big virtual hugs your way. RIP, sweet boy.
We are absolutely devastated to read this news. We loved Luke and we always looked forward to your posts about him♥ I am so very sorry. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you both♥ Hugs♥
I have not met you or your handsome Luke, and found this posted on POTP. I am so sorry your precious boy had to go accoss the bridge, not quite two years ago we lost our 8 year old Big Boy to congestive heart failure and we had only had him 2 years. I can feel your heartbreak, we have been there several times like you have with all your angels up their greeting Luke. We are old, and when one leaves us we rescue another senior, it is hard to let them go but we did that when Jake died and Big died, we got Beau who is the star of our blog now and about to turn 9. As soon as you can think about it do what Brian always saysm Adopt Cats they deserve it but our Mantra is adopt Senior dogs, they deserve it. I love the name of your blog…
We send respect,
I am so very sorry. I enjoyed Luke’s farm antics.
Y’all are on my heart as you deal with the pain.
I’m heartbroken to read this news and I was afraid that Luke had passed when I read the title of your post. I didn’t realize he was only 8 years old. That is much too young. I am so deeply sorry……he will definitely be greatly missed by all of us. Sending (((hugs))) and prayers of comfort.
Oh Jan! I am so very sorry to hear this news about Luke. Please know that I am thinking of you and your husband and sending you a big virtual hug. ~Sue
Jan, we’ve sent a short email, please let me know your thoughts, hugs, Ann
😓😥
So sorry it’s never easy to lose them. Bless your family!
Oh my gosh, what a shock! We are all so very sorry for your loss. Luke was such a special boy and he got so much love and understanding from you and your hubby. Mom can’t imagine a house without a dog, it would kill her, so we understand how bad a loss is but especially when there is no other pup to help you through it all. This is just so very sad. GBGV hugs to you and our thoughts are with you. We’ve seen so many pups come and go in the years we have known you and to think you lost this precious one is just too sad for words. He was truly fortunate to have had you as his family.
Love to you dear Luke, forever. And to those who shared life with you ~ and will remember you always, as will we.
Ann and June
That is so heartbreaking, we always, always, always loved seeing what Luke was up to around the farm. I can’t imagine the loss you are feeling. We send you hugs and all our love. Run free Angel Luke.
That is so heartbreaking, we always, always, always loved seeing what sweet Luke was up to around the farm. Such a special guy he was. We send you hugs and all our love. Run free dear Angel Luke.
We are so sorry to read about your loss of Luke. We know he is running free with Those Who Have Gone Before …and maybe in time he will lead you to another Good Dog.
This is so sad and shocking. I am very sorry for the loss of your sweet boy. XO
Oh Jan, how sad for you and your hubby. Gone far too soon:(
I know all the memories you made with him will sustain you now, and forever.
My condolences to you both.
Huge hugs!
((((( ♥ )))))
Oh no, Jan. You know how I loved Luke. He was most handsome and so precious. Big healing hugs, my friend. ♥♥♥
Oh, Jan, you know how much I grieve for and with you. And I know how hard it must have been for you to write this post. Just as it was for me when Ducky passed. Our texts back and forth sending puppy kisses to Luke from Ducky and to Ducky from Luke always made me smile. Our heart dogs have left their paw prints and so much more on our hearts. Luke was special to me as well. God Speed Luke.
Dear Jan, I am so sorry that Luke has left you and your husband. He was a great fellow and will be missed by your readers. Our pets give us so much love and laughter. I think they make our lives better (even when they chew on shoes and steal food). Hugs to you and your husband.