Mr. Bates Mathews

Bates passed away peacefully with his family by his side on February 4, 2026, after a courageous year long battle with end stage renal disease. 

Born on February 7, 2013, Bates quickly became my best friend and constant companion. He was a mischievous little puppy and always found ways to escape his playpens and kennel. We used to call him Houdini, because he was a little escape artist. As an adult, he still found ways to get out of enclosures and would be sitting on the couch when I got home. He was the most adorable puppy, and was known for hopping around like a little bunny. He made us laugh and smile non-stop! 

When Bates was just under 1 year old, we moved from Alabama back to West Virginia. He absolutely loved car rides and was the best boy on the long 12 hour car ride. He also had a deep love for his “baby”, Mr. Fox. He carried that old ragged toy around until his final days. He also enjoyed watching TV, chasing his ball, following his momma around, and eating lots of treats! He had a great hatred for peas, and while eating, would spit every single pea out of his dish. I grew accustomed to stepping on peas all the time. He also disliked certain insurance commercials, dancing/running/quick movements on the TV, and went absolutely bonkers if an animal was on the TV. He was so smart and we often joked that it was kind of scary how intelligent he was! 

His spunky and  quirky personality made him so special. He had many nicknames including B, B-Bop, Batesy Boy, Sweet Baby Angel, Little Boy, B-bop-a-top-o-lus, Squirm, and Squirmy Wormy! He was an extreme wiggle butt (mini Australian Shepherd) and his little nub and backside would shake so hard that it would end up shaking his whole entire body! He had the cutest underbite and was simply just the cutest. In public, people would always want to pet him because of how cute and little he was. He loved his people and was very protective over us and his property. 

One of his favorite places to be was at his pappy and grandma’s house on the farm. He would get so excited when we turned onto the road to their house. I couldn’t say pappy or grandma without him getting overly excited and ready to go. This was no joking matter! He took going to see them very seriously! He was obsessed with my dad to say the least. They were best buddies. If pap was eating, B was right there beside him having the same thing. They enjoyed peanut time and ice cream time together. Pappy would groom him and give him butt cuts and trim his grinch feet. When grandma was in the kitchen, he was always on high alert! He always laid beside  grandma at night and waited by her door in the morning. He wasn’t satisfied until everyone was in the same room together. 

Some people say that Bates didn’t realize he was a dog, and I’m okay with that. He lived a full and happy life with his people. He wasn’t just a dog to me, he was family. 

Bates was my constant shadow. He was my  velcro dog and my soul dog. He helped me through so many changes and challenges in my life. Good or bad, he was there, a constant unwavering presence that I found comfort in. 

Bates is survived by his family and his furry best friend and cousin, Scrappy. He was preceded in death by his cat brother, Monday, who passed a few months earlier in Alabama. 

We are forever grateful for the years of love, loyalty, laughter, and joy he gave to us.

Run free, my sweet boy. You will never be forgotten and will forever be missed.

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