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View Full Version : A change in plans made for a great day


Phillip Carr
01-26-2024, 01:12 AM
I got up this morning and read Garys posting on Jolie. This was on my mind as I loaded the truck to go bird hunting.
I started 2023 with 4 dogs and lost two. They were sisters Missy and Bell. We had a lot of great hunts in the 14 years we hunted together. They are truly missed.
Unfortunately of the two I still have, Scout is 13 and has started going blind over the last few years and nothing can be done to stop the progressive blindness.
Due to Scouts poor eyesight he has gone hunting very little the last two seasons.
My plan this morning was to only take Ollie my 4 year old out for a few hours of quail hunting.
When I went to my side gate Scout and Ollie were both eager to go .
I let Ollie squeeze by and started to close the gate, Scout just looked at me dropped his head and tail and started walking away.
Damn that got to me.
I opened the gate and told Scout alright let’s go.and he quickly followed me to the truck.
Physically Scout is strong and I know it's a small window in which he will have the drive and eyesight which will allow him to hunt.
I decided today when I go out to hunt so is he. I don't want to look back and wish I had taken him out more. I would rather take a chance of him passing in the field happy like today than spending all of his time left in the back yard.

I picked a spot to hunt today that was a little more open and had an old road I figured we could follow.
I parked the truck and let Scout and Ollie out while I started getting ready, Scout would run out 30 yards then run back to me, bark then run back out repeating this the whole time I was getting ready.
Scout would not hunt the sides of the road, he knows thats not were the birds are and so he insisted in hunting about 100 yards in to the trees.
Yes Scout bumped into a few things but he adapted well slowed his pace down.
What Scout lacked in his eyesight he made up with it with his nose finding a majority of the birds the dogs pointed today.

chris dawe
01-26-2024, 06:31 AM
Old scout !

Stan Hoover
01-26-2024, 06:42 AM
Thanks for sharing your day with us Phil, Go Scout!

Garry L Gordon
01-26-2024, 07:21 AM
Good for Scout...good for you, too, Phil.

Harold Lee Pickens
01-26-2024, 08:06 AM
Bless you for getting old Scout back to what he loves. Those oldtimers always make me smile. Curiosity as to the cause of his visual impairment, is it cataracts or some form of retinal dystrophy?

Phillip Carr
01-26-2024, 09:59 AM
Harold, you are spot on. The eye specialist diagnosed Scout with retinal dystrophy. I am giving him vitamins they recommended but the vet was not sure at this stage and his age I would see much benifit.

Benny Keith
01-26-2024, 10:42 AM
It’s hard not to take them when they know you’re going especially late their life and ours

Dean Romig
01-26-2024, 12:24 PM
Scout kept running back to you to bark his enthusiastic "Thanks Boss, now Come On!"





.

J. Scott Hanes
01-26-2024, 12:28 PM
Bless you for returning the love that Scout has surely given you.

Robert Brooks
01-26-2024, 02:21 PM
Nothing like an old dog. Bobby

Joe Dreisch
01-26-2024, 05:42 PM
Phil, that act of loving kindness will ensure that when you pass to the great beyond, Scout will be waiting to show you a few coveys he has found up there. Your story brought a tear to my eye but also brought back a flood of great memories of my dogs and hunts with them. Thank You, Sir!

Brett Farley
01-26-2024, 08:37 PM
Good for Scout and good for you taking him Phil! You won’t regret that for sure!!

Phillip Carr
03-10-2024, 02:54 AM
Brett this sure rang true. Scouts last day with us was today. The last hunt just adds to the many great days we shared together. Most of these memorizes only he and I shared.
He will soon join my other dogs that lived pretty long lives but gone too soon.
All of my dogs that are gone are in a special place where I take all my new dogs to hunt for their first wild birds.
Hunting and Honoring the ground where the ashes of my dogs are scattered.
It may be kind of crazy but means something to me.
I will also honor Scout and the others by getting some new recruits.
All of my dogs have been special and have brought me so much happiness, that I just can not imagine not having hunting dogs in my life.
If Scout could Communicate I bet he would agree.
Thank to the Parker group that understands just how special these companions truly are.

Chris Pope
03-10-2024, 08:03 AM
Scout was one lucky dog.

Garry L Gordon
03-10-2024, 08:42 AM
Phil, those of us who’ve been blessed with hunting dogs understand. The bond is like no other.