Rock Hill family’s beloved Alfie died from cancer at 14. But Alfie wasn’t even a person
People publish obituaries of loved ones in newspapers that talk about life lived, laughs laughed, and words spoken.
A recent obituary in South Carolina was for a beloved Rock Hill family member who ate socks and barked. Yes, a dog.
In Thursday’s edition of The Herald, the obituary was for Alfie “Mole” Ergen. Alfie died Monday at age 14 from lymphoma cancer.
Fourteen in dog years, 98 in people years.
“The lymphoma will go down as the only loss Alfie had in his life,” the obituary stated.
Dog obituaries are rare.
But the love for this dog pushed York County couple Bethany Richey and Michael Ergen to publish the obituary in the newspaper and on heraldonline.com so the community would know this was a real-life man’s, and woman’s, best friend.
“Alfie was truly a legend,” Richey said. “Alfie was a dog. But he was family. And always will be.”
The couple took Alfie in five years ago as a rescue dog. Alfie immediately burrowed under blankets and became known as “Mole.” Alfie ate bananas. Alfie demanded luxury and got it.
Alfie watched “Law & Order” reruns and Pittsburgh Steelers football games on television. Alfie loved a good walk as long as it was short. Alfie loved a good nap as long as it was long.
Alfie chewed socks and barked until he got breakfast.
“Breakfast was at 4 o’clock in the morning,” Richey said. ‘He made noise until he got it.”
Alfie was a puggle, Richey said — part pug and part beagle. Shortish legs. Longish body. A heart the size of Lake Wylie.
Alfie was cremated, and the couple soon will head to their native Pittsburgh with the ashes where a tree will be planted in Alfie’s honor.
“Everybody loved Alfie,” Richey said. “Alfie loved them back. We wanted to share that with everybody.”
The obituary ended with this line that Richey said summed up a family that barked and laughed until it cried: “Alfie, you were our best friend, and we love you.”
This story was originally published November 4, 2021 at 1:40 PM with the headline "Rock Hill family’s beloved Alfie died from cancer at 14. But Alfie wasn’t even a person."
