Obituary of Spike Menkins

Very sad to say that we lost our beloved Spike yesterday. He died here at home with us.

RIP Spike 
4/7/10 - 12/27/20

"No one ever called him a great dog - or even a good dog. He was as wild as a banshee and as strong as a bull. He crashed joyously through life with a gusto most often associated with natural disasters."
- John Grogan, Marley & Me

I know there have been and will have to be other dogs in our lives but I can confidently say there will be no other dog like Spike.

I won't disrespect the dog Spike really was by making him sound like a good dog. He wasn't well behaved. But he was perfectly ours. He was a selfish, obnoxious, drooling, shedding, mess of a spoiled brat dog that ran our lives. He had selective hearing (especially at the beach) and would blatantly bark at us to play whenever we wanted to relax on the patio, watch a show, or do pretty much anything that did not involve him being the center of our attention. He has been known to knock down small children or take an adult for a ride weaving between their legs not caring that he was too big and tall to fit gracefully.

He loved with abandon. There has been and never will be a creature more excited to see us than Spike was every time one of us returned home to him whether gone for mere minutes or for days. He got excited whenever we said 'the kid's coming' immediately taking watch for Alex's arrival. He was deeply loved and cared for by our neighbors and would excitedly look for them whenever we said their names. They helped us welcome him home over 10 years ago and then helped us say goodbye.

He had such a great life. Countless frisbee throws, walks, swims, ocean waves to ride, beach sniffs, and so many other adventures. He was always given the best of us. Rick retiring a few years ago further improved Spike's lifestyle!

Through the years, Rick reminded me often that he had warned me when we turned that car around the day we passed the sign 'lab pups for sale' that we were going to change our lives and he couldn't have been more right. And I would do it over without question. I am not sure what we will do without you. Rest in peace my sweet boy.