Gracie’s Gone…
 

How do I begin?….
Where do I start and when does this emptiness stop?

Gracie had been exhibiting signs that something may be not quite right back in September sometime. So I took her to the vet I’ve been using for well over twenty years… but they found nothing wrong and maybe a change of diet would help… but I hunted with her all through October and early November with only a couple of unusual episodes. I thought maybe for her age (9 years 5 mos.) I might be hunting her too hard, but my grouse and woodcock self-imposed season’s end was here and she could relax and take it easy.
In late December the episodes became more frequent and lasted hours like she was in pain but even more complex tgan just that.
So on Christmas Eve Day I rushed her to the emergency 24/7 vetrinary hospital where they ran indepth tests for 3+ hours and the diagnosis was the worst… she had late stage terminal spleen cancer that also involved almost half of her liver.
I brought her home with me and administered the pain med and the herbal oriental med to reduce the internal bleeding from the very vascular tumor. But she kept going downhill and even though she still thought she was a puppy and wanted to play and snoop around in the yard I knew I had a duty to perform and that was to bring her on her last ride in my truck to the vet to put her down… and on January 23, 2024 I did just that.

These pics were taken that morning - once in the yard while I was trying to get her to come and get in the truck (but she had found some mouse tunnels under the snow…
The other pic is at the vet just before the lethal injection. I truly didn’t deserve the trust in me she was giving at that moment.

Gracie helped me cope with the devastating loss of my dear Kathy by always being a distraction that I couldn’t ignore. She always wanted to play; to run; to give and receive affection; to need brushing and bathing and feeding and watering; to go for rides to explore new places and people and just have fun. She took Kathy’s place beside me on my bed and was there when I reached out in the dark to touch her and rumple her ear.
Gracie got me through those worst initial months.

My house is empty… just a big echo chamber now.
My memories don’t make a sound, but I do… :crying:



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Very sad. Our thought are with you Dean.
Margaret & Chuck

Heartbreaking............ I feel your pain. A small portion of it.

That's a bloody heart breaker. I can only imagine that Gracie is already somewhere afield coursing the heavens for all kinds of upland flyers. Let's hope some day all of us lonely hunters might get but one chance to see our pups all working together.
RIP Gracie. And Gracie, please keep your eyes out for a Griff named "Gunny", and four Labs- "Roe", "Mac", "Josephine" and "Calvin". They would love to share with you some outstanding coverts up there! They'll be looking for you.
Dean, thoughts with you and family.

Gracie lived the best of lives Dean! And that’s a tribute to you………so sorry for your loss…

My thoughts go out to you Dean. We do what we have to do out of love. I had to put Parker down after 14 good years on Nov 03, 2023. It has been tough but it was for the best. I'm looking forward to the next pup very soon. God bless my friend.

So sorry Dean, it's a very difficult time.

We, as pet lovers, have all felt the pain you’re going through. You’ll find comfort by recalling many of the good times you and Gracie experienced as a team. Cherish them. Better days lie just over the horizon.

Dean, heartfelt condolences to you at this tough time. I am deeply sorry.

Dean my heartfelt condolences my friend. No words can help at this time

I'm sorry to hear about this Dean, our thoughts are with you as you go through yet another tough loss.
Keep your head up there my friend!
Stan

The price of a dog is a broken heart when we must say goodbye. God bless you Dean.

Truely sorry for your loss my thoughts and prayers are with you .

Dean: So sorry for your loss. Its a hard row to hoe when a pup passes. My thoughts are with you.

Sorry to hear it Dean

So sorry for your loss Dean. I don’t know what to say other than I know this is tough and wish you the best during this difficult time. And be thankful of the time you two spent together.

Dean,

Sorry to hear about Gracie and your loss.

Ken

Dean, That is, perhaps, the hardest thing in life to do. I had to put Hap down last May and we have missed him every day since. Our prayers for you to find peace. Gracie's pain is no longer.

Dean, I know something of the loss of a best friend and hunting buddy. It's so tough. If there is some good in this thing called life, it's that we get to love dogs...and be loved by them.

I'm so glad I got to meet Grace -- a beautiful dog and soul.

Dean, I am not looking forward to what you have been through, They take a piece of your heart with them, I truly feel your lose Remember the good times with her, and how she helped you get through Kathys death, Gary

so so very sorry Dean

My condolences Dean.

so sorry Dean, my Fancy is the same age as Gracie, I remember them running around together at Ernies

So very sorry to hear this. Met her and Kathy at the first New Years shoot i went to and at Addieville.

Dean, Mom and I am very sorry to hear of your loss. Take Care, Tom

I’m so sorry Dean. I wish you comfort in this time of grief. And when the grief subsides may you find peace in the memories of happier times.

My condolences Dean. Such a beautiful dog, very sorry for your loss.

My sympathies Dean. Stay strong my friend.

So sorry to hear this Dean...all they ask of us is our love and care and knowing when to let them go. Take pride in the fact that you accomplished that for her.

Truly sorry to hear this. You have my prayers during this time of grieving.

Lost one of our goldens 3 years ago under similar circumstances. I think the Yunnan Baiyao bought him an extra month, but that's all. At the end all he wanted to do was lie out in the snow on the deck. Cold never phased him. Godspeed Gracie and we'll see you on the other side.

Been there, done that. Get a puppy as soon as you can, maybe a pair. James

A few pictures in honor of Gracie.

Gracie…..
 

All of us know that its the dog that we are hunting for and mostly living for…and as we age we watch them run, hunt and have fun with the enthusiasm we had in our younger years. I am so sorry to hear this Dean …their lives are so darn short. The pain will eventually be replaced by the wonderful memories of her puppy years and the worthwhile days afield you had together.

Hoping that replacement comes soon for you….

I lost my Lucy last summer. She lives on in my new Mollie

Dean, we were extremely sorry to hear about your loss, and I understand completely as I lost my best friend (also a Setter) a few years ago to similar circumstances.

You may not remember, but my wife and I met you. your wife and Gracie at the Southern last year. We had our Ryman Setter, Molly, with us that day.

One thing I will always remember...when we left that day, we saw you two sitting in lawn chairs at one of the shoots, behind the PGCA tent. Gracie was laying under both of your chairs. She was a very beautiful setter...and it was obvious a member of your family. She will live on in your hearts.....

So sorry to hear this news . . . .

I remember you Phil and Thank You.

Dean, so sorry for your loss.

Something that many of us have done, and will do, and can share your grief. Never easy to do but hope your loving memories of Gracie will help the pain.

I wish to express my sincere and heartfelt thanks for all of your expressions of condolence. Believe me they are greatly appreciated.

Today I opened my folder on my laptop titled "Grace the Setter" (not to be confused with another picture folder I have of "Grace my Mother") and I opened it up and slowly opened each and every one of the roughly 800 pictures I have saved for her entire life... It was a bit hard and I had to keep wiping my eyes because they kept welling up with tears. Kathy and I were so incredibly blessed by Gracie being in our lives. And she was blessed to have had us as her family for life.
From the day we went to coronation Kennels in Lowell, VT and picked her out and two weeks later when we picked her up and brought her home the pictures begin.

Everybody has, or has had, that one dog that stands so far out in front of all the others, and Gracie was our very special dog.

People often said to me years ago, "You haven't hunted until you hunt with a dog (that special dog)." Their words rang so true with each and every hunt with Gracie. NO she wasn't perfect - in fact she was far from it - but she loved it soo much and when we were out there she lived to hunt for me!

Thanks for indulging me.


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