Beagle remembered through spay/neuter fundraiser
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — The loss of a pet has led a local woman to look for ways to help other animals.
Photos courtesy of Tammy Barnhart
A SPAY/NEUTER FUND has been established by Tammy Barnhart, of Presque Isle, in memory of her beagle, Flash, who died in August, following months of having seizures. Barnhart wanted a way to remember her pet, while aiding other pet owners.
FLASH snuggles with his owner, Tammy Barnhart, of Presque Isle. Barnhart has established a spay/neuter fund in the dog’s memory. 
“I lost my beagle, Flash, on Aug. 13, 2014. I wanted to do something in his memory. I am a huge advocate for spaying and neutering, so I thought I would make a fund in his name to help adopters who adopt from shelters with the cost of spaying and neutering,” said Tammy Barnhart, of Presque Isle.
Flash first came into Barnhart’s life in 2007.
“My boyfriend at the time asked if we could have another dog. I already had two huskies and said no. I thought my male husky wouldn’t like the beagle. But Flash, who was born in June 2007, was brought home in November 2007. He had several names: Flash, Flasher, Fattie, Buddy, Puppy — to name a few. The last one, Sausage, was given to him by Dr. Hotham,” said Barnhart, noting he was “named Flash after the basset hound on ‘The Dukes of Hazzard.’”
“I would not have named him Flash; he was more of a Dopey or Barney,” commented Barnhart.
She said Flash soon made himself at home.
“The first couple days he would not leave our sides. Up to the day I had to let him go, he was by my side. I said no dogs on the bed. Well, guess what. He slept with me until he started having seizures in November 2013. He couldn’t control his system and would go to the bathroom when he had seizures. He was a bed hog and it took him a while to get used to not sleeping on the bed,” she said, noting she felt bad at night. “He would just look at me, probably thinking, ‘why?’” she said.
When the time came to say goodbye, Barnhart was amazed to find out just how many photos she had of Flash in his favorite chair.
“He had his own chair; I didn’t realize how much that was his chair until I was going through pictures trying to find one for his urn. I have several pics of him in his chair,” said Barnhart. “This guy was the sweetest, gentlest guy — but he didn’t like kisses!”
Barnhart said if she ever gets another dog, it will be a beagle.
“But for now I have no plans to get any more dogs. May Flash rest in peace,” she said.
As a way of remembering her beloved dog, Barnhart has established a Go Fund Me account to raise money to spay and neuter shelter pets.
“I have a goal to raise $5,000. So far I’ve got $200 of that. To make a donation, go to www.gofundme.com and look for Flash’s Shelter Spay/Neuter Fund,” said Barnhart.
Funds raised will help prevent pet overpopulation, by aiding adopters in covering the cost of having their pets spayed or neutered.
