LOST DOG - SOAFY - IN FAYETTEVILLE

[KimL]

Roger and I are keeping you and Soafy in our hearts today. We're so sad to hear the news.

[tomcat]

sorry to hear man...hang in there.

[GutIt]

Fish,

Unfortunately, I never had the pleasure of meeting Soafy. Or you for that matter. But Brother, I do know what you are going through and my Heart is on the ground.

Sounds like you were a lucky man indeed to have such a good companion to Journey with.

Always remember and never forget and she will be there with you.

I’m sorry, Fish.

[Michele Jackson]

Fish - I'm SO sorry for your loss. She was the best. She will be missed.

[Karla]

Fish, I am so sorry to hear the news about Soafy. I will miss seeing her with you along side. I remember the day on the upper Buffalo that she didn't like the riding that day and you took out at Steel Creek with her instead of taking her the rest of the way. God Bless you.

Karla

[DMG]

I took my almost three-year-old son to a boatball game one time and he was absolutely terrified of Soafy. We have a dog ourselves and he had been around many other dogs, but for some reason, he saw Soafy and just freaked. He had never experienced a dog with quite that much energy before so maybe that was it. He wouldn't even let me stand him up on the trunk of my car; I had to hold him or he would fly into panic. Anyway, Soafy took no offense. She just ran around being Soafy and within a few minutes, my son was in the grass several yards away from me petting Soafy on the head, like they had been friends for life. That's what Soafy did.

I'm very, very sorry.

~Dave

[Allen Rittman]

WOW Fish, really sorry to here about Soafy man that was a great dog!

Here is very short story about Soafy the Bear Eating Dog!!!

Couple summers ago Soafy road from Boundary Creek to Cache Bar in the raft with me. The first three days Fish also had to ride with me due to his 103 fever. The second day about 3 miles from camp we came across something swimming in the river in front of us as we got a little closer we realized it was a Black Bear swimming the river. Soon as we got close enough for Soafy to see the bear or smell it not sure which. But man she squared off on that bear and started barking like crazy and had Fish not grabbed her I think she might have jumped from the boat after it. Well we drifted quietly past the bear and took a bunch of pictures. But man that 30 pound dog was after that bear until we got out of sight of it.

Some may say well it was just a dog and for those folks I’m truly sorry for you! A dog is not a child; it’s not a parent or even a spouse but they are part of the family and the paddling family will miss Soafy.

Sorry for your lose Fish it will get better my friend. And good luck with your new endeavors.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly she begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, her legs carrying her faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

[Monsoon]

I never had the pleasure of meeting Soafy, BUT very sorry to hear this, Fish!! She is surely in Doggy Heaven lookin' down on all of you guys!!

[Ryan Center]

Fish, you know my family and I feel your loss of the most wonderful dog that ever walked the face of this earth. The kids are devastated that they won't be able to dog-sit Soafy anymore. Soafy got to do more in her short life than most dogs do in their whole life. You where such a good dog daddy to Soafy and she couldn't have had a better person to fall in love with her.

There is so many things I'm going to miss about Soafy I don't know where to start. Some of my favorites are taking her in my canoe on several float trips while you were in a kayak and the kids and I let her ride with us in the canoe. She would whine just as soon as you would get out of sight every time. We loved having her when you would go out of town and couldn't take her. I loved having her with us on the Middle Fork of the Salmon to get rid of our table scraps, and she knew she was contributing to the group. She had a way with the ground squirrels too.

The last time she stayed with us Isaac woke up around 5:00 one morning and decided to get in bed with Sarah, Soafy, and I. Sarah in the middle me on the right and Soafy on the left. Isaac started to lay down between Sarah and I and Soafy jumped in between him and Sarah. Then he went to the other side and Soafy wouldn't let him next to her. Isaac after a few attempts gave up and settled for me.
Man, I loved that dog as if it was my own family members. It has been a very sad day in the Center house for sure.

I love you Bill and I'm sorry for your loss. You and Soafy are in our thoughts.

[KAYAKN]

Fish,
Your dog always gave me a warm smile. Just this past Canoe School i got to throw some sticks with her, what a cool and VERY happy dog. I know everyone will miss her dearly.
Adam

[T Yamashita]

Really, Really sorry to hear this news. She was quite the lady. We'll miss her because of who she was, and who you were with her. It's always tough to lose a friend like her. The stories people have posted are a very nice tribute. Thanks for letting us be a part of you two, ty

[DeBo]

Terribly, Terribly sorry Fish. I'm glad you had her in your life and sorry she is gone. Take care of yourself.

“The risk of love is loss, and the price of loss is grief. But the pain of grief is only a shadow when compared with the pain of never risking love.”
Hilary Stanton Zunin

[canoe]

as my tears stream down my face as I reply to this ... she was the best manored dog that ever entered our cabin ... those eyes I still see bright and very happy just to be in her masters space ... so sorry........ Pam

[OzarkTom]

Fish,

I'm so sorry to hear about Soafy, she was a wonderful river dog and will be missed by all. Having her along on the MFS was one of the things that made that such a great trip. On the wall of my office is a picture of a bunch of us on the Ocoee with her in the middle of the raft... What an amazing dog she was. I know there isn't really anything any of us can do to make it better, but know that we mourn her loss with you.

Tom

[dai479]

Sorry to hear about your dog...