One last Bird

[donnie]

With the warm weather we've been having I'm thinkin it may be time to start training for bird season again. The dogs are bored around the place anyway and itchin to get back in the field. There is a new pheasant hunting club a few miles from the house now so I may be tempted to buy a few birds for the old dog to chase. She has pretty serious conjestive heart failure and a hunt may kill her.........I was thinkin that might not be the worst way she could go, She's 13 years old, I bought her for Shannon as a house pet when we moved into our first place together. I spent every spare minute I could scrounge training her to be the bird dog I always wanted. We hunted waterfowl every single day of our first 60 day season on the mighty Mississippi.
I hunt tested her when I was a lot younger and she carried me and my lack of training ability to several field trial wins and hunt test passes. She proved that she was smart enough to ignore me when I was wrong and in love with me enough to forgive my many shortcommings.......So I thought just maybe I could call the vet, and he could meet me out at Pete's and he could give me just a little time with her to tell her how much I love her and maybe he could let us hunt one last bird together and then maybe I can let her go.

[deputydon]

Donnie; I know what your going thur. My Lisa is getting up there in years and I know the time will come............. I've actually had her longer than
I've been married. Some people may think she's ugly, she's a wirehair, but she's the BEST DAMN DOG I EVER HAD. I just wish I had
more birds around so she could hunt more w/ me. It's to bad dogs can't live as long as us!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bill]

If there is a heaven for hunting dogs its got to be a CRP field filled with pheasants, quail, grouse, and a pond with ducks and geese.
She's been a good friend to you Donnie and will be sorely missed by me also.

[bullseye]

That sure is a tough one Donnie, when you have a friend that has been with you that long and wonder which is the way to go. You don't want her to suffer but she has become one of the family. In some ways it is too bad dogs don't have a longer life span. I wish you well and I think your thoughts and heart are in the right place.

[jimh]

donnie you're the second guy i know in the last few weeks that had to say goodby to their friend and companion. bob's golden died in her sleep just two weeks ago and it nailed him to the ground. i like you idea of how you want to have one last time and say goodby. best of luck with everything both to you and shannon.

[jabba]

My condolences Donnie.

Dogs take a piece of your heart and give you ALL theirs in return. We make out of that deal every time.

Sometimes we know what's right even when it ain't easy. You owe it to her to make it as easy for her as possible.

Jabba