4 - Friday, July 24, 1992 - North Shore News Dog days in Camelot A VERY sad notice was posted in the bus shelter in our Greater Tiddtycove area last week. It read: “NOTICE: “This notice is for all of those people who knew and loved Tank — a big black-and-white, four- legged con artist. Not many peo- ple got by him without first saying ‘Hello’ and giving him a pat. “On Thursday, July 9, Tank spent the day doing all of the things that he liked to do: rolling in the grass, having his fur brush- ed, eating all of his favorite foods, and visiting all of his favorite spots. **At 6:41 p.m. he very quietly left us for a better place. “I personally want to thank . everyone who ever gave Tank their time and a friendly ‘Hello’ every time they met him. “Sincerely, Earle Bingley.”’ In this world of woe, war, and want, it may seem a dispropor- tionate expenditure of sorrow to join Earle in his lament for a dog. But I do so anyway. I don’t need to tell North Shore residents, so many of whom have had their own Tanks by any name, of the poignancy attending the death of a beloved pet. West Vancouver especially must be a world-class area for dog ownership. Dogs travel sumptuously in Jaguars, peer at you from parked Fords, and wave cheerfully at you from speeding vans. They and their owners con- gtegate sociably at that wonderful strip of Ambleside Park where dogs are allowed (never change that enlightened bylaw, West Vancouver council, or I'll per- sonally lead the revolt at town hall), at beaches, on streets, and if you haven’t met violinist Robert Newton, who plays beautifully outside of the 16th Street liquor store, and his wonderfully soft and silky dog Farley, you have missed one of those tender and Trevor Lautens exquisite touches that elevate Canada’s wealthiest community above the distressing squalor that characterizes certain other suburbs, which I sensitively will refrain from naming. At the risk of hurting Earle Bingley’s feelings at a distressing time, I’m bound by the stern rules of journaiistic honesty to say that Tank was not necessarily the most beautiful dog in West Vancouver. He was three-quarters St. Ber- nard and the leftover was retriev- er. He was large and low-slung. Like so many big and older dogs, including my own old Lab Sam, he suffered from arthritis. Latterly it was so bad that Earle hetd Tank's leash in one hand and his tail in the other, steadying him carefully as the two slowly pro- gressed along the roadside on Marine Drive. Earle can be an outspcken character when he puts his mind to it, a man of strong likes and dislikes, and he exchanged some sharp words with passers-by who advised him that the dog should mercifully be put down. Tank, however, always retained the gleam in his eye and his ap- parent zest for life whenever I en- countered him. His ills included a benign tumor on his rear quarters. Liberal nomination dropped ALLAN TAYLOR, a leading candidate for the Liberal nomination in the federal North Vancouver riding, has said he is no longer interested in running for the party in the next federal election. Taylor withdrew his nomination two days before the North Van- couver federal Liberal Association was to hold a July 9 nomination meeting. Taylor was believed to be the only person nominated. The local Liberal association subsequently cancelled its sched- uled meeting. In withdrawing his nomination, Taylor said he didn’t think he had enough support from the federal Liberal party. “I’m very grateful for the sup- New carpets of the highest quality. ide selection Lowest Prices in town Guaranteed * trade-ins, repairs and handwashin; Example: Heriz 10'x7" now only $750 ORIENTAL RUGS 1434 Lonsdale Ave. N. Vancouver 9387-3365 port of my riding associates. The local organization has the com- mitment needed to win an elec- tion, But I am not satisfied there is adequate support currently available from the federal organization,"’ said Taylor. When he announced his nomination, Taylor said ‘‘lead- -ership of the country -and ac- countability to the riding’? were two major issues. “In terms of strategy, we're teady for an election right now,” Taylor said. Taylor, a former North Van- couver City alderman, is Sussex Realty’s vice-president of opera- tions. Earle lavished care on him, with enough somehow left over for his four cats. Earle tends to find animals more lovable than human beings, not a unique discovery, one that millions, including me, quietly share. I wrote about him in February when he was struggling to put together a proposed walk from Vancouver to Los Angeles with the aim of raising money to establish free neutering and spay- ing clinics for animals. His attempt to bring in the Doris Day Pet Foundation hasn‘t worked out, but Earle still has hopes of some such project next summer. He has further anxieties to add to his depression over putting the 14-year-old Tank to sleep — car- ried out with great sensitivity, by the way, by Ambleside Animat Hospital's Dr. Dudley Richmond, to whose care I’ve entrusted my own Sam and his late pal Boz. Earie’s landlord, businessman Fred Kaufmann, died in December 1990 — while playing chess at Park Royal — and Earle finally must vacate his home by Aug. 31. At age 58 he faces the tough tasks of finding a job — he’s submitted 80 resumes in the last while — and a piace to live that will accept pets. In the past he’s worked in the hotel business, including for the Four Seasons and the Blue Boy, and as a school bus driver, but he knows alt about how hard it is for a man of his age to get employ- ment these days. He’s told friends that he has fears that he'll literally become homeless. A few days ago Earle took his faithful old Tank’s ashes and spread them in some of his favorite places. He can be a pretty prickly indi- vidual, but he has a soft heart. As we all know, fife in West Van- couver is the closest thing to Par- adise, but there can be tears shed even in Camelot. ALLAN TAYLOR | “SEW&GO" THE LIGHTWEIGHT | COMPACT (10 LBS.) WITH HEAVYWEIGHT CAPABILITIES PRICED 99 - Silks to denim - FROM $279 Simply dial to your stitch - straight sewing, zigzag, applique, blind hem, etc. Automatic built-in buttonholer, too! 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