Magnificent Magnum

“Magnum” was a rescue dog from the AGSDR and was about six years old when we took him in as a ‘Foster Dog’. He immediately looked at me and decided that he had found his ‘permanent home’. It took me a little longer to realize that he was right. And so, my then wife Katherine Cristiani and I adopted him. At 120 lbs. and with fangs an inch and a quarter long his first impression upon strangers was sometimes daunting. However, he was a real ‘Teddy Bear’ and one of the gentlest souls imaginable. Always photogenic, Magnum was “Mister January” on one AGSDR Calendar, and appeared with his lifelong companion and friend “Lainey” in two others. He was the mascot on the AGSDR’s T shirt and featured in their “Pajama Ad”. Magnum enjoyed the attentions and pettings he always generated at the Christmas and Valentine’s Day Gift Wrappings and was extremely popular with both the public and the staff of the stores which sponsored them. He also loved to participate in every ‘Meet and Greet’ he could attend. After four years, he survived Katherine’s death and adopted my new fiancée, Earlene Loflin, becoming her “Big Baby” for the last five years. With the death, three months ago, of his companion, “Lainey” and at 15 years old, the strength and brightness of his spirit ‘inside’ could no longer maintain itself against the deteriorations of his body ‘outside’. Old Age finally caught up with him.  Both Earlene and I were with “Magnum”, providing hands on love and comfort to him as the vet put “Our Wonderful Boy” to sleep. We can only wish that “Magnum” is now happily rejoined with “Lainey” and Katherine. To say that he will be missed is a vast understatement. “Magnum” has left an awful void in both of our lives.

Franklyn G. Prieskop and Earlene Loflin