Marvin, our beloved Rottweiler mix, died June 28 at VCA Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center in Norwalk, two weeks after a diagnosis of end-stage liver disease.
Marvin Maguire-Dinan.
He was eight.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his brother Dexter. He was predeceased by brothers Wilbur, Russell and Louis.
Born in Alabama around December 2013, he was rescued from a kill shelter there by Amber’s Angels Rescue of Goldens Bridge, N.Y. We adopted him at eight weeks.
Handsome, irrepressible, curious and with little sense of personal space, Marv was a force of nature who made himself at home straightaway, dragging boots, mail and other household items into oversized dog beds. As a teething puppy, he also tried most every day to carry Wilbur’s plastic blue food bowl out of the kitchen and into the back yard to chew.
Before his first birthday, Marvin landed three times at the Cornell emergency animal hospital in Stamford—after eating a bee, eating my kidney stone pain medication and getting into a large amount of chocolate that Marie’s mom had sent from Ireland. During the last visit, a Cornell vet tech snapped a photo for us of a smiling Marv standing between two pools of chocolate dotted with dozens of shiny colorful foil wrappers, one at each end.
Marv’s other major medical event was in the spring of 2017, when he spent four days at Cornell after eating an estimated 125 Advil Liqui-Gel capsules and nearly went into kidney failure.
For three years, Marv romped off-leash with his brothers every day at Mianus River Park in Stamford, Tod’s Point in Greenwich and Lake Mohegan in Fairfield. Then suddenly, Marv started showing aggression toward strange dogs, and his exercise changed to muzzled, leashed walks around Stamford.
His best friend at home was Dexter, a golden retriever one year his junior.
Marvin loved to play and rough-house with Dex. He jumped onto visitors to our home, sometimes tearing their clothes and/or skin with talon-like nails that he could retract like a cat. Once at Lake Mohegan, he gave my friend Marty a black eye while jumping up in greeting.
Yet Marvin never yelped or showed outward signs of physical pain. His grandfather during one visit from Dublin nicknamed Marv “the little bruiser,” which stuck. Other nicknames included KK Butt, Tubba Guts, Jarvis, Jarvey and The Cuteness.
He single-handedly destroyed the back yard, digging deep, long trenches under the grass.
Marv repeatedly rammed through the latticework fence under the back deck to make his summertime base in the shaded dirt there, an area we started calling “Marvin Gardens.” He pawed at and crashed his head into doors to open them. Eventually he cracked and broke a glass pane at the bottom of the rear door.
He terrorized neighbors, delivery people and passing dogs, menacing them with his ferocious barking. He howled with the sirens of passing ambulances, fire trucks and police vehicles.
We eventually got a DNA test for Marv, and it came back that he was a mix of Labrador Retriever, Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, Chow Chow, American Bulldog and English Springer Spaniel.
He hated vegetables and thunder.
He loved mealtime, jumping up for his food through his entire life, earning the nickname Starvin’ Marvin.
He liked to swim in the Mianus River and Long Island Sound, making figure-8’s in the water. He gave great side-eye.
He snored, yawned with a cat-like mew and loved belly rubs. He loved to lay on piles of pillows and sofa cushions. After Louis died, he claimed the living room sofa near the TV. He loved to sleep outside, and if you couldn’t find Marv to bring him in at night, you could just sing ‘Marvin’ and listen for his tail, which would start pounding the ground wherever he lay.
Those who loved him included his aunt Roisin, grandparents George and Mary, and friend Kit, whose poodle Marv once bit during a walk at the Mianus, puncturing his throat.
Despite his worst behaviors, all Marv had to do was look at you with his big brown eyes and all was forgiven.
He rode the Metro-North Railroad train from Glenbrook to New Canaan a handful of times, and vacationed in 2016 with his four brothers in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Our home is not the same without him. When Marie comes home from work, there’s no Marv jumping at the fence or steps of the deck with his rapid-fire kisses. Sirens blare and now it’s the only sound there is. Last week, the mailman did a double-take walking down the neighbor’s driveway, a property line that Marvin had patrolled faithfully.
I am so sorry Mike. What a great dog Marvin. He really had a spectacular side eye. Nothing like it. ❤️
As always- your eloquence is breath taking. I felt Marvin in every sentence and I know your soul
Is a bit more empty for having lost him. Know that he Beanie and Cosmo are romping around over the Rainbow Bridge they are all in good company.
Mike,
I’m so sorry for your loss. You wrote such a beautiful tribute to another beautiful family member.
Thank you for sharing Marvin’s story with us.
Beautifully written obit Mike. Sending my condolences to your families.
Heart breaking warming tribute to an amazing character. Wonderful tight knit clan of amazing personalities.❤️
I am so very sorry for your loss of Marvin. Your memories will stay forever and he will be well taken care of over the rainbow bridge. My condolences to you and Marie.♥️
I stopped in my tracks to read the beautiful & sassy tribute to your Little Bruiser. Marvin’s personality traits & quirks are perfectly captured (and especially appreciated by me!)…Marvin Gardens, the side-eye, the great Irish chocolate binge/purge, the menacing property patrol…Marvin was a hero to all dogs with attitude. My sincere condolences to you and Marie. Cheers to Marv, one of the very best.
I’m so sorry, Mike.
Mike and Marie I’m so sorry for your loss. I never met Marvin but he sounded like an amazing boy. Cherish the amazing memories you wrote about. Find peace in knowing he is free of any pain and discomfort and running around with his brothers. ❤️❤️❤️
Dear Michael & Marie,
I am so very sorry to read about your loss of Marvin. He was such a well loved dog who gave you such joy and many exciting adventures. Your tribute to him was so beautiful and captured the ever loving joy he brought to you. May he RIP. Cherish the memories.
Mike, I am so sorry for your loss. But wow, was Marvin loved. A beautiful tribute.
This is beautiful. So sorry for your loss!
Awww Marv. So sorry, Mike and as always really enjoyed reading about him. ❤️
Thank you for sharing Marvin with us. I enjoy the stories about your boys. I’m sorry for your loss.
A beautiful tribute to Marvin……he had a good time!! He is surrounded by all of his buddies now
I loved Marvin. He was a one-of-a-kind dog, somehow bigger in personality and gravitas than any of my other dog friends — almost mythic. I’m so very sorry that he is no longer with us. It’s a big loss all the way around.
“He hated vegetables and thunder.” ❤️
I am so sorry for your loss, Mike. Marvin was clearly a legendary little man who left some big laughs behind for his people. Thanks for sharing his story with us.
Marvin’s guardian angel chose you to give your fabulous boy his life filled with total love and joy. And he basked in his love for you and your family. Love lives on.
A lovely tribute. Please write my obituary someday way in the future…
Michael, so sorry for your loss of Marvin. What a beautiful tribute that your wrote in his memory
I’m so sorry for your loss Mike!! Marvin lived a full joyful life with you all as his family. All dogs should be as lucky and loved as he was! What an incredibly special tribute you paid him too!
So sorry for your loss Mike. You gave Marvin a life full of love and good times.
You were lucky to have each other.
I remember seeing you in Mianus from time to time when you were walking there.
Your tribute to Marvin was beautiful and truly honored his life which was far too short.
My thoughts are with you.
This was such a lovely and spirited tribute. Made me smile and chuckle.
So sorry for your loss.
God bless Marvin 🙏🏻🐶
Michael,
What a wonderful tribute to Marvin.
He had a great life.
Lucky all of you. I’m so sorry for your loss.
Marvin sounded like a handful that fit you and Marie’s hands perfectly. So sorry for your loss Mike.
Im so sorry for your loss – what a beautiful tribute to a very handsome pup. may he Rest In Peace.
Michael and Marie, my heart is so heavy reading this and yet a smile on my face for the beautiful and honest tribute ! I never met Marvin, but always loved him from a far and enjoyed my debates with Michael about which dog , Zooks or Marvin, gave the best side eye 😒.
I hope They find each other on the smother side of the rainbow and sending you both hugs and love. Marvin was awesome !
Mike, I am so sorry for your loss. Marvin had a good, good life with you. (Not all rescue pets are so lucky!) What a wonderful tribute… ❤ Heartfelt condolences.
I am so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful tribute to Marvin.
We love our pets and they contribute so much to our lives; a wonderful tribute to your Marvin, and to all those pets who went before him.
We are sorry for your loss.