Cryptozoology Online: Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ) - the world's best cryptozoology organisation

There is sorrow enough in the natural way From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store, Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy Love unflinching that cannot lie--
Perfect passion and worship fed By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find--it's your own affair-- But...you've given your heart for a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will, With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!);
When the spirit that answered your every mood Is gone--wherever it goes--for good,
You will discover how much you care, And will give your heart for the dog to tear.

We've sorrow enough in the natural way, When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent, At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe, That the longer we've kept 'em, the more do we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong, A short-time loan is as bad as a long--
So why in Heaven (before we are there) Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

Rudyard Kipling

"Toby, framed by CFZ cats Carruthers and Isabella, who also both died in the summer of 2000"

(May 2000 - the last pic of Toby before his demise)

. .

"Even at 15, Toby still always liked to be the top dog..."

(Sep 99 - during the filming of 'Owlman')

TOBY THE CFZ DOG 1985-2000

by Jonathan Downes

Anyone who has visited the Centre For Fortean Zoology since its inception nearly a decade ago will have met, made friends with, or possibly have been bitten by Toby the CFZ Dog. He has been my constant companion for fifteen years now and without straying into the realms of anthropomorphism, he has probably been my closest friend during that time. I bought him for a fiver in 1985 when he was only a few weeks old and he has been with me ever since.

When I founded the CFZ in 1991/2 he took to his new existence like the proverbial duck to water and soon became a mild celebrity within fortean circles, appearing on television and speakers platform with us on many occasions. He also accompanied us on all of our UK based adventures and investigations and never failed to do something revolting, usually when there was a TV camera pointed at him. If there was a rare specimen to be eaten Toby would eat it, and if there was an inappropriate place to crap, he would invariably crap there.

In the last year he has been suffering from failing health and his last "public" performances were in the crowd scenes of the Owlman movie and centre stage in "The Brassknocker Hill Project" a spoof of Blair Witch that we made for HTV. He has been a firm friend, a loyal companion and a true member of the CFZ Community.

It is with great sadness, therefore, that I have to tell all his friends and admirers across the world, that after a short battle with cancer he went off his feet yesterday and was finally put to sleep this afternoon. He will be sadly missed.

Slainte

Jon - 1 Jun 2000

And here's a few comments we've received about the ol' boy...

Dear Goodbuddy Jon,
Ever so sorry about Toby.
We went through similar sadness when we lost our 16 year old Tiggy. We deeply sympathise. I have no doubt whatsoever that God takes care of the pets we love and that we shall see them again in Heaven.
All the very best, mate.
As always, Lionel & Patricia [Fanthorpe]

------- I am so so sorry. I know this kind of pain when I lost Missy, and know that words are not going to fix things. We are going to be with them some day and never have to leave them again. It is what I hold onto.

Toby will be missed by even those of us who were never fortunate enough to have met him. Love to you and to the memory of Toby - Felinda

-------

I liked Toby. He was a good dog and from what I remember, he was always happy. Except for when [Nick] Redfern was about - then he started growling. He has been immortalized in film and in people's minds, I don't think that anyone will forget him though he will be missed. The world has lost a good dog, and the people, a good friend. - Simon Reames

Graham's note on Nick: yeah, Toby did seem to have a bit of a 'thing' about bald UFOlogists dressed wholly in black!

------- Deeply saddened. I only met Toby once at Weird Weekend and he made a great impression. He didn't say much - don't think I heard him even bark - but his face was worth a thousand words. He had knowing eyes. Wherever he is I'm sure he'll be happy. - Mike Hallowell.

------- I send my heartfelt condolences on this sad day. Toby, like you, was an individual that shone. My memories of my first visit to the CFZ is always punctuated by 'that dog' putting his nose where it wasn't particularly wanted, especially as I was trying to look professional - a failed task as I'm sure you will all agree!

And as a colleague on the first Owlman movie I think you'll agree that he was the least pretentious out of everybody concerned!

With kindest wishes and all our love,
Ben and family [Ben Cusden, film director]

------- I was very sad to learn of Toby's passing, but know only too well how you are feeling. It's been 3 years since Sam died, but never a day goes by without thinking about him and also about Patch before him. We love our pets because they are somehow like ourselves, only with more innocence and trust... - Dr Karl Shuker

As I prepare this web page, Jon's in East Devon and I'm sipping a Tequila. When Toby was here and I was doing computer work, I'd sometimes 'raise my eyes to heaven' at his grunting and fidgeting and snuffling round the rubbish bin in the kitchen, but now that's all absent, it just seems kind of odd, somehow...

"Toby guards the CFZ stall at the Creepy Crawly Fayre"

(Jun 1999)

"Toby in the 1998 CFZmobile"

(Autumn 1998)

BEREAVEMENT - by Noela Mackenzie

We're the Centre for Fortean Zoology,
And have been for some time;
Here we study animal physiology
Strange creatures from many a clime.

We keep snakes and fish and a cat or two,
Tortoises also stay,
But the be-all and end-all of our little zoo
Is lore of the present day.

The Loch Ness monster and UFOs,
Felines from Bodmin as well,
Owlmen from Mawnan also pose
Problems whose stories we tell.

But a few weeks ago there was a loss,
Toby the Dog had died;
He was known as the CFZ ultimate Boss,
Taking all in his stride.

Then Isabella, our aged Cat,
Faded away and departed,
With both of them going and leaving us flat,
Everyone was brokenhearted.

We have no dog now the Centre to grace,
Though who knows what the future will bring?
Perhaps a puppy will visit the place
To be the next canine King.

We have a new Moggie, Tommy by name,
To fill Isabella's blank,
But no Hound to go walkies and have a game,
To fill the depleted rank.

Now we are mourning Toby's demise,
A well-known CFZ member,
And Isabella's no more before our eyes,
Two companions we'll always remember.

- 1st August 2000