Bones’ beloved beagle needs new home

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/07/2017 (3257 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As his family and friends prepare to celebrate the life of a larger-than-life Winnipeg concert promoter, it seems Bruce (Bones) Rathbone, a man who could be hard to help in his later years, still needs some help.

Actually, it is his beagle, Charlie, who really needs help now that Bones is gone.

As I suggested Saturday, Rathbone’s family thought all his pets had new homes: his wiener dog, Chico, has a new home; as does his 27-year-old blue-fronted Amazon parrot, Ned, who’s perched on Lilac Street, at City Haul, with the bird’s old friend and new full-time owner, Matthew Frost.

Charlie appeared to have a home until Sunday, when Kendra Halabicki — the woman who was looking after him — emailed me with some bad news.

Kendra lives with two of her own dogs and a cat in an apartment near Rathbone’s house. Last winter, she helped Rathbone by walking Charlie for him. She continued to help with walks during the spring and into the summer.

Two Sunday mornings ago, she saw Rathbone throwing out some trash in the lane they share. Kendra told him she would be by later to walk Charlie.

“And, he said, ‘OK, I’m going to lie down. I’m not feeling well,’” she recalled.

Much later in the afternoon, home care had shown up at Rathbone’s house and couldn’t get an answer. When Kendra dropped by to get Charlie, she helped the worker get into the house. That’s when they found Rathbone, 70, on the floor dead of an apparent heart attack. Chico and Charlie were with him.

Kendra, who understandably was upset, said she left. About an hour later, when she returned, Kendra said she found both dogs still at his side and police having trouble getting them to leave him. She called Charlie and Chico, and they both came running to her.

Since then, Kendra said she has found Chico a “forever” home with one of her cousins, but she doesn’t have room for Charlie; not with all her other pets, even though they all get along. Plus, her landlord said he can’t stay.

What makes it even more urgent: there was an incident with another, larger dog and its owner who live in the same block as Kendra.

Charlie is four years old, neutered, house-trained, up-to-date with vaccinations and even comes with heartworm pills, blankets, leashes, toys and his winter Winnipeg Jets sweater and coat.

When I met Kendra and Charlie late Monday morning, a Winnipeg Animal Services Agency truck was pulling up.

It turned out Kendra had called the police on another tenant who allegedly kicked Charlie after the much smaller dog had reportedly attacked his dog. Meanwhile, the owner of the larger dog had called Animal Services to report Charlie.

Apparently there’s a lot more history and drama between neighbours and Kendra’s other dogs, but no “priors” on Charlie, according to the Animal Services officer. Why would there be, though? From what I could see of Charlie interacting with people in the neighbourhood Monday, he is a sweetheart of a little guy and would make a great pet for anyone.

In case you’re interested, Kendra said Charlie is four years old, neutered, house-trained, up-to-date with vaccinations and even comes with heartworm pills, blankets, leashes, toys and his winter Winnipeg Jets sweater and coat.

Charlie is following Kendra everywhere but, she said, she needs to let him go to a good family.

Rathbone would want that and, in his own way, I think he left Kendra to help him with that.

Pet homelessness common after owner death

People passing away or going into care without having a place for their beloved pets is a regular monthly situation for the Winnipeg Humane Society.

The WHS says the best way to have some peace of mind around the prospect of leaving a pet behind is to select a guardian. And include the guardian’s name, and any other provisions, in your will.

“The WHS will accept a surrendered animal and will do everything it can to provide the pet with a new home, “ a spokesperson said in an email. But a familiar family member or friend is the best place for your pet if you can no longer be there.

Rathbone appeared to be preparing a new home for his parrot, Ned, when he began lending the chatty bird daily to Frost, and the smoke shop/collectibles store owner started supplying food and vet care. The pair bonded.

“I think he had the wisdom to know there needed to be a succession plan,” Frost said of Rathbone.

The WHS will be the beneficiary of any funds raised tonight during the celebration of Bruce Rathbone’s life at the Burton Cummings Theatre.

Frost will be there offering selfies with Ned for a $7 donation to the Winnipeg Humane Society. Ned will throw in a conversation for free.

Interested to adopt Charlie? Email Gordon.Sinclair@freepress.mb.ca or call Gordon at 204-781-4999 and he will pass your information along to Kendra.