End of an era
 

Sadly, today we said goodbye to Deacon Blue. He was our first and best Setter. An excellent bird dog and an even better companion. He was my buddy and will be missed by us all. Glad to have been able to hunt him twice last week. He performed like a champ and gave us no clue he was fading. Farewell Deacon, you set the bar for all the Setters that will follow you in our life.

We will miss his goofy way of checking our campsite out for a treat at Rock Mountain events.

Sorry for your loss.

One of life’s most difficult duties is to say good-bye to those we love the most.

I’m very sorry for the loss of your good friend Mike.





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Ah h*ll Mike, that sucks. Best wishes.

Sorry to hear the news.

Sorry for your loss Mike, love the photo, it says a lot about him. First one or 21st one it gets no easier.

So sorry to hear about Blue. I enjoyed our visits when at the Rock. How old was he? Seems like yesterday when he first greeted us.

I sorry not the way to start the New Year. I remember meeting him in your clubhouse, what a nice guy he was.

I'm really sorry to hear that Mike. It never gets easier but we continue on to the next pup after a loss just hoping they last a little longer and perform at least as well as the last one did in the field. My best to you and Sam.

Guys, Deacon was 10 1/2 years old.He was suffering from chronic kidney failure since summer. At that time our vet said 6-12 months. He was getting heart meds AM and PM due to his heart swelling from the kidney issue. Every other day we would give him 100ml of saline from a drip bag to help flush the toxins from his system and he got a piece of raw heart and liver twice a day to supplement his food. Vet said he'll be fine until he stops eating. Well, we hunted Saturday AM. He ate Saturday PM. Sunday he nibbled in the AM and PM, but nothing like usual. Then he wouldn't even eat raw meat or egg on any food since Sunday. He went to the vet and she put him down. It was time. I just thought he'd be around longer. Totally shocked as he hunted like a champ twice last week. Never gets easier. Yet, we do it over and over and over....

Sorry for your loss. He was one handsome Setter.

These times are tuff! Both he and you gave all you had to give to each other and what else is there to be asked for in a life?
There is a 16 month old Setter resting under my left elbow as I type, and he came here to live in part to safe guard my emotional needs should something happen to the Springer that owns me. Keep up with the pup, best tonic I can suggest.

Sorry to hear Mike ,with a 14 year Drhathaar pup at my feet it wont be long for me either unfortunately

So sorry to hear this Mike. Having recently lost one of ours, Sandy and I know the pain and sadness you feel. They are only with us a short while, but their memories are with us forever. So sorry for your lose.

Sorry for your loss Mike. I feel your pain. My cure for this over the years is to pick up a pup as soon as possible. They will lessen the pain.

I'm sorry for your loss Mike, I know as most of us here do of what your going through. We sign up for it gladly when we get a pup never thinking about the end.

Aw, Mike, I'm so sorry to hear of your loss! You guys certainly did everything possible for him, and I'm glad he was still hunting and having a good time. I'll be thinking of you all.

Sara

Mike, I saw your post on the Fox site and wrote to you there. I've probably seen Deacon more over those years than anyone else on Parker and I'll say again, I am so very sorry for your loss. Deacon is taking a rest..... Mike you know what I mean by that.

frank

Thanks guys. As high as I was about how Callie was coming along, this brought me right down. Hope to take Callie and Ghillie out for the first time together next week. I want to see how she hunts with another dog and Ghillie is good to go with 99.9% of any other dog. If she hunts/backs/retrieves like I know she is able to, then I have a new brace to guide with.

We were planning on breeding Callie and Deacon when she came into her next heat (any week now). We really wanted one of Deacons pups to carry on his skillset. Change of plans now on the way.

Mike, you can take solace by knowing Deacon had wonderful and loving parents.

Mike, words cannot say it, Been there! they just do not live long enough. If people were like dogs this world would be a much better place, Gary

I've always liked this quote by Natty Bumppo, then named the "Leatherstocking" in J F Cooper's The Pioneers:

“...that dog is more to be trusted than many a Christian man; for he never forgets a friend, and loves the hand that gives him bread.”

Dogs are the very best judges of charachter.





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I agree Frank. I don't know whether it is a condemnation of mankind or a love of bird dogs, but I care more for bird dogs than for most humans I meet!!

Sorry for your loss Mike.

I dread the day I lose my next who'll likely be Rocky. He's a great hunter and fantastic travel companion. I have a year and a half old pup with the same blood lines coming along nicely to soften the blow a bit. But his loss will be particularly tough. A soul mate of sorts as Deacon seems to have been.

Jesus said "In heaven the lion will lay down with the lamb". Well if there are lions and lambs in heaven Surely there is room for a good dog ! Sorry I wish I could say I don't know how you feel.