Barley Cowan

Sad News 6/6/2020

Barley (previously Sam), flew to Rainbow Bridge on Saturday 6 June.

His mum Eileen wrote:
He was the most gentle lovable Big Boy anyone could have wished for. He helped me cope with my husband’s dementia and has been my sole companion for the last 18 months.

We collected Sam from his foster home in Bolton on 4th March 2014. He travelled well in the car once we had him settled in the back seat being cuddled all the way back to Scotland and his new home. He didn’t respond to his name so we chose Barley for him, responding to Barley B and Boo Boo. He immediately got his paws under the table and adapted to his new home in Doune, enjoying some new walks, his garden and lying right in the middle of the kitchen floor.

Barley enjoyed being with the family when they came to visit, he went off for walks with his human big sister in the Trossachs and even helped her assess Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions, enjoying cuddles and pats from the participants.

He had some lovely long walks but never really enjoyed a walk that involved uphill – forest walks were great fun with lots of sniffs and smells.

Barley was very well behaved and we were able to take him on holiday to stay in hotels and cottages. He had numerous little holidays and jaunts in Scotland and northern England, discovering the sea for the first time at Achmelvich. Barley loved to cool down and wallow in some water, but he was more of a hippo, and the muddier the better, often coming out two-tone! He was a lovely, soft, cuddly affectionate boy, with a very gentle nature and he just loved his cuddles on the sofa. You couldn’t eat ice cream or yoghurt or he was nudging you for some. He had a recurring problem with one of his front paws, which did hinder some of his walks, and he often was sporting bandages, socks or his little boots on his sore paw. His back legs gave him problems as he suffered from arthritis but still happily plodded along on his walks until very recently.

He was an informal pat-a-dog, and much loved by the residents when he went to visit his ‘daddy’ at the care home. He has missed these visits this year and his doggy walking friends as he found it increasingly difficult to get into the car despite various aids we got to help him he did not like being lifted and he was quite heavy!

Sadly, he developed an aggressive tumour on his chest which caused other problems and we had to say goodbye to him in early June.

Barley was loved by everyone who knew him and he has left a big empty space in our lives.

History

Age: 2-4

Sex: male, neutered

History
Sam was surrendered to IRR because he is gun shy.

Personality
Extremely well trained and well behaved, this boy knows most commands. He’s house trained, travels well in the car, gets on well with other dogs, not toy or food possessive.

Sam’s dream home
He loves company, grooming, cuddles and would suit any environment.  He’s not a bouncy dog.  A great all rounder.

Fostered in: Burnley, Lancs.

March 2014

Sam has gone to his Forever Home.