A good start-puppies

[Bruce Day]

Charlie's new puppy, on quail at 3 months. This pup won't be bored, what with quail calls to listen to all day long, ponds to swim in, all sorts of wild critters to sniff and runs to the feed store in the pickup truck.

[Bruce Day]

Mark Vollinger's new Vizla pup.

[Harry Collins]

How empty our lives would be without dogs.....

[David Borrowman]

How empty our lives would be without dogs.....

I agree. Most Missourians know about this, but the saying "man's best friend" originated in a court case in Warrensburg over the shooting of a hunting dog named Old Drum. I read this every once in a while, and it has the same effect every time.

"Gentlemen of the jury, the best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter whom he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us -- those whom we trust with our happiness and good name -- may become traitors in their faith. The money that a man has he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolute, unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world -- the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous -- is his dog.

"Gentlemen of the jury, a man's dog stands by him in prosperity and poverty, in health and sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow, and the snow drives fiercely, if only he can be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer; he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.

"If fortune drives the master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in its embrace, and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death."

George Graham Vest 1870

[Jack Cronkhite]

Bruce: Thanks for the pictures. Puppies are special. A sometimes frustrating period of their life span but enjoyment surpasses any level of frustration. It is the time when they worm their way into our hearts and minds.

Harry: So true. Their presence in our lives and the memories they create and invoke long after they are gone are beyond measure. We know there is a certain inevitability that we must face when we bring a dog into our lives and a puppy is the best grief counselor we could ever have.

David: Thanks for sharing the court's opinion.

Regards,
Jack

[Dean Romig]

How lucky is a man who has a new puppy to train to love him.