guys thanks for the kind words........We all go thru this....they are here for such a short time and leave such a lasting impression. They are familyWhat a hole in my chest!

Chuck and Traci, Linda and I are with you all the way. Our Wirehair, Eva, who you know from the Side by Side circuit is 11 1/2 years old, very active, but the inevitable is coming. Bird dogs are the best of the best, not to take anything away from a loyal retriever. At 71 years old, I have been given permission to start another dog when Eva leaves us. Obviously, because of my debilitated physical condition, it will not be an English Pointer, but a Wirehair is very high on the list. I left for the Army in 1967, leaving my Dad with a very high strung English Pointer, Ranger, but he survived cancer and a heart attack by parking the car next to a productive field and waiting for Ranger to go on point, then slowly walking in on the point. Dad used his remaining strength to great advantage, and had no trouble harvesting a Pennsylvania cockbird on a regular basis for the two years I was away "doing my duty". Chuck, the 20 gauge A-1 in the pictures I showed you is still on the radar. Bill and Linda Murphy

Brings a tear to me and Ol Sam's eye. Godspeed Chuck

Chuck and Traci-

"“The perfection of a life with a gundog, like the perfection of an autumn, is disturbing because you know, even as it begins, that it must end. Time bestows the gift and steals it in the process.” – George Bird Evans, An Affair with Grouse, 1982

God Speed, Wally...........................

Chuck
That is so sad. We are all thankful to always have two dogs around. It makes the hole seem smaller in your heart.

Chuck and Tracie,Sorry to hear about Wally.Our dogs become our cornerstone as you said. They also become an extension of ourselves and the things we love.Try to think of him as making a long cast and know you will find him on point in the future.

Loss of your dog
 

Chuck I share like the others for you and Tracie to have lost your companion. They are here such a short time and we must treasure every moment in their playfulness, serious hunting moments and their soft eyes as they look for our approval. They touch our hearts everyday and when they are in danger we hover over them like our children. They are our children and we owe kindness to them everyday. Bless your dog who you will see again in the greatest quail field that ever existed. I guess I would have finally met you at the Sothern SXS last month which my daughter and I attended but perhaps another time. Nobody can ever take away our memories of our 4 legged companions not even time itself. Take care. David

So very sorry for your loss. They certainly are family and the best of souls. I think we have more to learn from them then them from us. There is nothing like their unconditional love....Wally was very lucky to have you and such a wonderful life...

So sorry for your loss. Ours has been gone two years now and it just takes time but I miss her every day. May God give you the strength to remember the good times and smile through the tears, going through hoping he would recover has made this much harder for you. As a recent article in Shooting Sportsman said, "Understanding that you cannot replace a one-of-a-kind friend--dog or man--is the first step toward getting through the loss of that friend." but as Gene Hill said, "anyone who ever said you can't buy love never bought a puppy." and you can only thank God for the blessing and know you did everything you could to give him a special life and we know you and Tracie did all you could do. Good days are still ahead and you will always have great memories of your special friend.

Chuck and Traci, I am so sorry to hear this and to have it happen on Mother's Day............. But you know he's up chasing birds and he has no pain just like the old days. RIP Wally. Eric