Fred,


I have much empathy for your situation.I lost two fine dogs this year one in September and one on Thanksgiving day a few days short of her 15th birthday. I feel for you I wish you the best and I hope you can at least celebrate the blessing of having had such a fine dog. They are a treasure and I hope you have the good fortune to have another good one in your future.

Trigg

Fred;

I,m feeling sorry for you. We wiil need to have a wake sometime.

A line from the late Ben Hur Lampman
 

His entire article on "Where To Bury A Dog" was featured in the Premiere Issue of GUN DOG maybe 1986? The key phrase is "In The Heart of His Master"--It is always a heavy sadness when we lose a four legged best friend, perhaps, as in the great wisdom of the young lad- we can know that our Dogs don't know about mortality- they view each day in the alloted span of years as just another patch of light opening up the morning skies, with the promise of adventure ahead--

That adventure could be a ride with "The Boss" to Lowe's for nails and paint, a trip to the Vet (how do some of them know that in advance?) or chasing the neighbor's cats up the sycamore trees- or best of all, the trip with duck boat in tow to the marsh, with water, much and mud, the feel of a hefty bird in mouth paddling back to the blind- or going out to the farm and finding quail and other great smelling birds to the nose, slamming into a "Fire-Plug" point and hearing the bang and seeing the feathers airborne- All Good, all good in deed, and all part of our memories as we have to say "GoodBye" --

I'll re-read "Old Tom" and other greats buy Gene Hill tonight, and raise a tumbler of Bourbon and branch in memory of your fine friend and bird finder!

Sad to hear of your loss Fred.

t
Thank you all for your kind words about the old boy. Ring had a full and long life as a gun dog when he wandered off in the snow a week ago tomorrow. I believe he knew it was time. He can't be replaced, but does have a successor; another black and white Elhew. Pete is his own dog and it shouldn't be any other way.

Adios old Friend, Fred