"To Bury a Good Dog"

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Google this article above written in 1925 by Ben Hur Lampman, and if your eyes don't grow misty, or you don't fall into deep remembrance of your past best 4 legged friends, we have little in common.
Shiner, my setter of 15 years, has passed.He had a great last hunting season, and amazed not only me, but my hunting companions with his endurance and desire to hunt. He stopped eating last Thursday, and after much thought and reassurance from my vet that there would be no recovery, was put to sleep tonight. If you went to Hausmann's last June, he was the setter I was camping out with. Just 2 weeks ago I hunted pheasants with Kenny Graft and Shiner pointed and backed his share of birds on a short hunt.
Shiner was a product of a full blooded Ryman female, and a grouse trial champion, he sired some great puppies like my setter, Betty, probably the best dog I will ever own( or does she own me?)
These pictures are from this past season, the 3 grouse were taken with my VHE 20.
Farewell Shiner, good dog.

[Dean Romig]

Sorry to hear that Harold. Good "best friends" are hard to come by.





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[Rick Losey]

sorry to hear about your loss Harold-

the price we pay for their wonderful companionship

[Daryl Corona]

Sorry to hear that old buddy. May he be in bird dog heaven where there are plenty of birds and nobody misses.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Harold, He will be waiting for you at the Rainbow bridge, he will be as he was when a young dog, you two can hunt in fields full of birds and never grow tired! I feel your loss like you do not know Gary

[Alfred Greeson]

So sorry to hear about your loss. I think it was Gene Hill who said, "Whoever said you can't buy love never bought a puppy." Like Gary said, I fully believe he will be waiting for you to join him one day. You may loose the friend but his memory will be with you always until you see him again, an you will.

[Mills Morrison]

Sorry to hear the news

[Daniel G Rainey]

Sorry. Great dogs are like best friends, you just don't have enough of them

[Angel Cruz]

Sad to hear of your loss Harold. Every time I read one of these post my eyes get misty and I pray my turn is a long way off.

[chris dawe]

Rough stuff Harold ,I have an old timer at my feet right now ...dreading the day,something us bird dog lovers have to keep in the back of our mind from the first day we bring them home .
It sounds like you guys made the best of it .

[Gary Laudermilch]

Harold, I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. Every time one of them dies a piece of your own soul goes with them, so bonded are we with our hunting buddies. But, if it is any consolation, you have the memories, and they can never be taken away. Oh, so many memories.

[Bob Jurewicz]

Sorry to hear of your loss!! Unfortunately I'm at the same point with my oldest GSP, Quillow. She has been a long time outstand hunting companion and loyal pet. Each morning I decide if today is the day. Quillow is the white and liver in my signature pic.
Bob Jurewicz

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Bob, I believe she will let you know when the time comes, enjoy each day till then, Gary

[John Dallas]

Our vet said it best "When the dog is no longer having fun being a dog, then you'll know it's time". Regardless, it's still a real bear to have to put down your best hunting buddy.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I am sure it caused you to reflect back on your past beloved dogs with both a smile and a tear.
go to www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/wheretob.htm

[Scot Cardillo]

Always a very sad day indeed

Sorry that you lost your Dog

[charlie cleveland]

we hate to see them go...some stay with us for several years and some only a short while but thank GOD for the memories....charlie

[allan.mclane]

Harold, thank you for sharing your loss; it's a good reminder to savor every moment we have.

Here's a little bio on Ben Hur Lampman... it sounds like he might have been right at home in this group!

http://http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/lampman_ben_hur_1886_1954_/pdf/

[Jim DiSpagno]

Harold, my condolences. It's never easy. My prayers are with you.

[Troy Miller]

Harold sorry for your loss

[Jack Cronkhite]

Harold: Sorry to hear. We are the lucky ones who have had a good bird dog adopt us. They leave us so much richer than before our time with them. Jack

[Rich Anderson]

Harold I'm sorry to hear of your loss. We have all been there, it's the price we pay for the undying love and friendship they give us so freely. To have to say goodbye to one of our canine companions is one of the hardest things we will have to do in this lifetime.

When you return to the Grouse coverts in the Upper Peninsula next fall rest assured Shiner will be there also.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Rich, Matties gun is nearing completion, cannot wait it has been almost three years since started, What a pleasure it will be to be in the woods with my old companion in my hands, Gary

[Matt Valinsky]

Harold, sorry to hear about Shiner. I met him last spring, a fine gentleman he was. I'm not sure where I heard this but I hope it is the truth. "When one of our best buddy hunting dogs leaves us, a piece of our heart goes with them. When it is our turn to cross over we will join with them all and our heart will be whole again." I'm sure I didn't get it exactly correct, but you can get the idea. Best to you.

[Paul Harm]

I know how you feel. We had two Wirehair Pointing Griffons, a male and female. Just last year the male, 10 years old, went blind, couldn't hear or taste. I had to put him down. I took him for one last ride on the golf cart for about 10 minutes around the yard. He seemed so happy. I think it was the worst thing I ever had to do. We still have the female, and now a new pup, a German Shorthair. It's eased the pain, but I still sometimes call him by the others name. The first one was Remington, now it's Parker.

[allen newell]

Having owned and trained my share of setters and labs over the years, I am unashamedly moved to tears reading all these posts.

[Shawn Wayment]

Sorry to hear this. Wish they lived forever