One More Day

[C.O.B.]

Our intrepid sport Larry and Garth the GSP have been joined at the collar for over 14 years now. Garth came about as the result of a monetary scheme Larry devised to raise funds for an Alaksan Caribou/ Black Bear hunt. You see our sport had a wonderfull female Shorthair that he came by devilish means also.

Fat Joe (nothing derogotory here thats we we called him) bought Maggie as a started dog with borrowed funds and no place to put her. Larry had open kennel space and afterall it was only for a few weeks. Months went by and Larry trained Maggie to sit, stay, woah and be steady to wing and shot. One day Joe came to get her and afterall she was his dog. Through the grapevine Larry heard that Maggie never left the pig pen of a kennel and that she was neglected and for all practical purposes abandoned. One day Larry walked into Joes place of business and told him "I have taken Maggie, here is the $600 you paid for her. She will have a better home with me" and that was the end of it.

To fund the Alaskan trip Larry had Maggie bred to a fine looking and good tempered male from a line of Shorthairs prominent at his hunting club. There was never a plan to keep any of the pups. The litter arrived early on Valentines day. There were nine in all, somewhat problematic as mom had only eight spigots. One day after playing with the pups one couldn't be found. Garth who was the first born was found in the gunroom sniffing the rack of shotguns in the open safe. In those days there wern't the fine Parkers there are today, mostly Browning A-5's and Model 12's, there was one double a Winchester M21 20 ga skeet gun and thats the gun Garth was interested in. Garth had just found a home irregardless of what the wife thought of it, it was a sign and a done deal for Larry.

Garth learned to retrieve in the livingroom with a knotted up rag and a piece of light rope. At 6mos he was pointing a wing solid as a rock, would walk at heel, sit, stay and woah. His field traing came with Pigeons with their wings locked together they could walk around but not fly. He learned to be steady to shot this way. When he had mastered that the birds were dizzyed up and planted for him. When fall came around both the hunters hit the woods and fields. Garth hunted next to his Mom who I'm also sure taught him a thing or two. They hunted together for 9 years untill one night Maggie started convulsing in her crate uncontrollably. Larry and his wife stayed up through the night to give her comfort.

The vet said Maggie had had an eplipetic siezure which could be treated with Phenobarbital. This was unsuccessful and the vet put her in a coma so she could get some rest and fluids in her. The next morning the vet called to say as she was coming out of the induced coma she had another siezure. The dog was suffering and there was nothing to do but Man Up so Larry had the vet put her back under untill he could get there. Once he was with Maggie and could hold her and reassure her everything was going to be alright and to thank her for the 10 wonderfull years together and the blessing of Garth the vet did what had to be done. Larry stayed with her to the final breath and brought her home for the last time.

Garth had ten years under him when another rescue came in the form of Ella. A three year old GSP smart as a whip but wild as a Great Plains tornado. She had a good nose but needed a place to call home and someone who would run her. She has just two speeds, flat out and a dead stop. Garth and Ella hunted together for several years and the two made a stylish pair, backing each other's points and working together as a team.

The last couple of years garth has slowed down considerably. He is about deaf and has learned to come to hand signals. Larry gets him out to the Hunt Club a couple of times a year. Though age has gotten the best of Garth his spirit is still young and vibrent. He knows when the guns come out and his tail begs to be taken along but Larry just can't risk takeing him to the big country where the Grouse are. He wanders off and can't hear and the last thing in the world for Larry would be to lose him in the woods.

Lately he has experienced some health issues in an uncontrollable case of diarrhea that has lasted for months. His food has been changed multiple times and now he is on a special food that is supposed to be easier to digest and can only be obtained from the vet. There have been probiotics, over the counter and perscription anti diarrhea medications, X-Ray's to look for blockages and the anti inflamatory prednazone. As this is bad on the liver an ultrasound of Garth's liver was done prior to giving him this medications. At the risk of liver damage this has helped some but what was the alternative? He has lost weight as he isn't absorbing the nutrients in the food and the medication also acts as a diuretic. The only remaining course of action would be a colonoscopy to determine if he has cancer. If thats the case then there is no cure and the information will only add to the dark cloud over their lives. As of now Garth is in good spirits and pain free. He gets up out of his leather chair and will follow Larry around whever he goes and he is for the most part a happy fellow.

It's at night with just the two of them together sitting on the couch, Garth's head in Larry's lap getting his ears scratched or a tummy rub that the reality of the fact that they have had more days behind them than ther are ahead sits in. A promise is made that no matter what there will be no pain, no agony, no matter the degree of difficulity and the heart wrenching decision that will be made there will be dignity and honor at the end. It's at this time of night when Larry's eyes fill with tears that he thanks his best buddy for the day and asks him for one more.

[charlie cleveland]

very sad storey but true for about any one who ones a dog...brought back memories for me some of them over 50 years passed... thanks charlie

[Carl Beers]

Hey Rich.....another "home run" in writing. I always look forward to reading your stories. I'm hoping one day you'll offer a booklet or collection of your stories. Take my order at this time for copy number one....signed of course. How about a personal goal of a story per month; you could soon publish the book. Keep your pencil sharp and your mind alert; I scence another story is close at hand. Best always, Carl Beers

[Double Lab]

Rich,
I detect an autobiographical element to your wonderful tale.