By LEAH WEATHERSBY

Butch the bulldog, the former mascot of Don's Collectibles & 2nd Hand store on NE 123rd and Lake City Way NE succumbed to cancer this past February. He was 10 years old.

Since 1991, those who passed Don's Collectibles could expect to see Butch lying out by the curb in front of the store. While some might have expected the larger-than-average dog to act as store security, owner Don McGill said that Butch was "friendly as hell," except perhaps to a few local drunks.

"Butch was considered a Lake City icon," McGill said. "People would drive by and say 'oh, there's that bulldog!'"

Unfortunately, Butch may not be the only part of Don's Collectibles to leave Lake City this year. McGill, a collector and restorer of antiques and vintage cars, opened the store in Lake City in 1989. He was able to expand the shop throughout much of the 1990s, but he says lately the Internet has taken a big bite out of his business.

These days, McGill said many people search the World Wide Web to buy and sell their collectibles and that he may have to give up the store when his lease is up in July. McGill has been selling some of his merchandise on the Internet as well, but he said he'd prefer to sell face to face, partly so that people can see what they're getting.

In the meantime, Don's Collectibles will not have to do without a canine companion.

Customers can count on seeing Butch's 2-year-old son, Whitey the bulldog, at the shop, except on sunny says when McGill rides his motorcycle to work.

"If you see a hog, no dog," McGill said. (