Have enjoyed seeing the photos and reading some of the stories about the dogs, even if they conjure up many emotions. That alone should be testament to just how important a part of our lives that dogs (and other pets) can be. I read one time that if a man had one good dog in his lifetime, he was ahead of the curve. I've been lucky enough to have three or four. My first lab, "Deuce," was the runt of her litter and the owner gave her to me because he couldn't sell her (and as a poor college student, I didn't have $200 to pay at the time). She turned out to be more than I ever could have imagined. I shot doves about every Saturday during the seasons back then (1980's) and she was my hunting partner. Not a field trial dog, but she was a cracker jack retriever, easy to train, and was an even better companion. Started taking her duck hunting and she was a natural in the water. We lived behind our family dentist's office back then. He was a hunter and I'd let him take Deuce with him from time to time. He eventually offered me a good sum of money for her, but I wouldn't have taken a million dollars for her. She had one litter of pups and raised all ten of them. Best mama dog I ever saw. She had more care and concern for those pups (and for me and my family) than a lot of the humans I know could muster. She went everywhere I did and got along with everybody. As good a friend as I ever had.
I had her six years when she got sick. Stopped eating and whined in pain if she had to move about too much. First noticed something being wrong when she labored on a duck retrieve. One of my quail hunting buddies was the vet in town and when I took her to see him, he came out in the waiting room after examining her with a long face. She had a cancer, advanced, and although he could keep her comfortable temporarily, the ordeal she would have to go through would be just terrible. The selfish part of me wanted to try and keep her going, but I soon realized that it would be an injustice to subject her to the pains of the treatments that would really only prolong her suffering. I remember looking into her eyes as I petted her and talked to her for the last time. She seemed to say with her look that "It'll be alright, we've had a pretty good run and I'll soon be in a better place. Just don't forget me!" And I haven't.
We've had several dogs since, but she was head and shoulders above. Our Brittany that we have now, "Gunner," isn't much of hunter, but is a great companion and has a very human personality. The neatest thing about dogs is that they will usually give back to you as much or more than you give to them and will love you unconditionally. We can learn a lot about ourselves through our relationships with them and as painful as it is when they leave us, I can't imagine not having one or two as part of our family.
Sorry to run on, but this thread hit a soft spot for me! I appreciate all who have shared.
