Enjoy!!!<\/p>\n
Fred Ridgway:\u00a0 In my own words!<\/p>\n
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As most of you know, or have at least have heard by now, on November 13th<\/sup>, 2013, I made my trip over the Rainbow Bridge.\u00a0 If you are not sure what the \u201cRainbow Bridge\u201d is, Google it. \u00a0I can tell you first hand, it really does exist!\u00a0 I had a pretty good life and like all Rock-Stars, I felt I should have my own auto-biography.\u00a0 So here it is\u2026<\/p>\n The first seven or eight years of my life are kind of blurry.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t have a horrible life, but I wasn\u2019t exactly living the dream either.\u00a0 I spent a lot of time in jail.\u00a0 Yes, I know you guys call them \u201ccrates\u201d, but believe me, after spending 20 of 24 hours in there, day after day\u2026 you\u2019d understand why it was more like jail!\u00a0 So I grew up in New Jersey with a nice enough family.\u00a0 The mom and dad were pretty cool.\u00a0 But then the rug rats started showing up.\u00a0 That\u2019s when things started going downhill.\u00a0 No one had time for the cute, loveable Bulldog anymore.\u00a0 Then there was the divorce\u2026 it was time for me to find a new home!<\/p>\n I was introduced to a lovely woman; we\u2019ll call her the \u201cBulldog Lady\u201d.\u00a0 She was part of the Mid-Atlantic Bulldog Rescue, a great organization, dedicated to saving my brothers and sisters who find themselves in situations similar to mine, and just need a second chance. \u00a0The Bulldog Lady brought a few people by to meet me.\u00a0 She was trying hard, but she didn\u2019t bring anyone cool.\u00a0 Until one rainy Saturday\u2026\u00a0 She showed up with a guy named Steve.\u00a0 As soon as I met Steve, I knew he\u2019d make a really great \u201cdad\u201d.\u00a0 It was a perfect match, right from the start.\u00a0 I got to ride to my new home in style\u2026 in the Hummer!\u00a0 I have to admit I was a little nervous on the way to Pennsylvania, but I really didn\u2019t mean to poop on the seat\u2026 total accident!!\u00a0 Steve handled it well, and I knew I was on the road to bigger and better things.<\/p>\n The Bulldog Lady kept telling everyone I had food, people, \u00a0and other dog aggression.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t have those things!\u00a0 Try being in jail all day, and tell me how happy you\u2019d be if someone were messing with your food or some strange dog was sniffing your butt.\u00a0 Exactly! You\u2019d be a little cranky too!\u00a0 My new home was really nice.\u00a0 It was just me and my new best friend, Steve.\u00a0 I think the Bulldog Lady told him I needed to go to obedience school\u2026 I didn\u2019t need school!\u00a0 I just needed to be out of that damn crate all damn day.<\/p>\n \u00a0At some point I met the \u201cDog Lady\u201d, from Leader of the Pack.\u00a0 I liked to call it \u201cdoggie day care\u201d.\u00a0 Man I liked that place.\u00a0 The Dog Lady knows her stuff.\u00a0 She told Steve she thought I\u2019d make a great therapy dog.\u00a0 Ummmm, I\u2019m a very handsome Bulldog.\u00a0 And everyone loves Bulldog\u2019s\u2026 Duh!\u00a0 Finally, I was headed on my path to becoming a real Rock-Star!\u00a0\u00a0 I just needed someone to love me for me, and I found that love from my new Dad.<\/p>\n Getting certified as a therapy dog was a walk in the park;\u00a0 although, you all know I didn\u2019t do parks, or walks for that matter.\u00a0 Hell, I even had my own \u201cride\u201d in the parades Steve would take me to.\u00a0 Fred Ridgway was NOT a walker\u2026everywhere I went, I went in style!\u00a0 Oh, and speaking of style, I really hated when Steve traded the Cadillac in.\u00a0 Man I loved that car!\u00a0 Who could resist a smile when they would see me in the front seat of that shiny black piece of awesome??!!\u00a0\u00a0 I pretended I didn\u2019t see all the people smiling, but I knew they couldn\u2019t help it.<\/p>\n Working with the Therapy Dogs was a lot of fun.\u00a0 I also really liked working with the CISM Team as well.\u00a0 I was always the first out the door during activation.\u00a0 It was a chance to ride in the car and you all know how much I loved that.\u00a0 It was really the only time I moved quickly.\u00a0 Every other time, I liked to move on what I call \u201cFred time\u201d, which was about 95% slower than any of you!\u00a0 I remember one activation with a bunch of Firemen.\u00a0 After doing what I did best, I was really tired and just fell asleep in the middle of the room.\u00a0 I may have been a little \u201cgassy\u201d, but come on!\u00a0 Let\u2019s see you eat that \u201cfood\u201d and NOT become gassy!!\u00a0 Not my fault!\u00a0 I also really liked visiting the older gals in some of the nursing homes.\u00a0 But what in God\u2019s name was that smell?\u00a0 I could have done without that.\u00a0<\/p>\n Although I really loved when it was just me and Steve at home, I didn\u2019t mind when he would go to visit his family.\u00a0 I either got to visit with my friends at Sally\u2019s house or with my Uncle Mike.\u00a0 I could have done without all the pictures that ended up on Facebook though!\u00a0 Seriously, who looks good in a Santa hat or New Year\u2019s Eve party favors\u2026 save that stuff for the dumb cats!!\u00a0 It seemed like everywhere I went everyone needed a little love from \u201cFredrick\u201d.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t matter if I was at Allentown Comm Center, CISM group meetings, Cetronia Ambulance Corps, or the annual EMS conference in the Pocono\u2019s\u2026 people would stop in their tracks and just say hello.\u00a0\u00a0 But I didn\u2019t mind, I know you just needed a smile and I was happy to help you with that!\u00a0 We needed each other I guess.<\/p>\n So that\u2019s pretty much my story.\u00a0 It was truly a pleasure to have met each and every one of you.\u00a0 We don\u2019t always know the reason, especially in the moment, but there was surely a reason.\u00a0 From what I hear, I touched a lot of people.\u00a0 I understand the Facebook post of my passing got nearly 200 \u201ccomments\u201d.\u00a0 Come on, that\u2019s Rock-Star status!!\u00a0 I appreciate every single one of them, as my best friend Steve really needed all of your support.<\/p>\n As most of you know Steve has been a volunteer with Cetronia for more than 30 years.\u00a0 He has decided to give back to the organization that has given him so much over those 30 years.\u00a0 Steve is asking for your support, in my memory, for contributions to\u00a0 the new building at Cetronia.\u00a0 Apparently, they are even going to name a room after me.\u00a0 To help my best buddy Steve meet his goal and raise money for a great organization, go to http:\/\/www.cetronia.org\/cetronia_9_9_1_giving_to_cetronia.html<\/a><\/p>\n It was a great \u201cRIDE\u201d\u2026 I\u2019ll be waiting on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge\u2026 Stop and say Hi.\u00a0<\/p>\n – Fred Ridgway.\u00a0<\/p>\n MidAtlantic Bulldog Rescue Presents Bullypalooza 2013-Saturday, April 20 at The Wonderbar, Asbury Park, NJ. A benefit to help rescue bulldogs. www.youtube.com\/embed\/AyBHp3W7rsw?list=UUpnyD8HZPg7jDdL16WLq0Zw Enjoy!!! Fred Ridgway:\u00a0 In my own words! As most of you know, or have at least have heard … Continue reading ![\"Fred\"](\"http:\/\/midatlanticbulldogrescue.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Fred-224x300.jpg\")
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