Sorry for your loss.Last Tuesday July 14, 1730 hours i put down the best dog i have ever had. Had the vet come out to the house and told him i have to be the one who does it otherwise you can leave and i'll do it my own way - just as painless but would have been messier. Vet agreed and set up the IV. I pushed the sedative and then 15 minutes later the toxin.
Have owned dogs all my 62 years. Don't ever remember not having one. Gilgy was the best of them. Could run like the wind, swim like a fish, track anything. Recovered deer and bear for me and others countless times. Ran countless coons and coyotes to ground. He was a Rotty/Walker cross and seemed to have inherited the best parts of those two breeds. He had just turned 15 in June. Was still spry and still taking coyote watch until 2 days before the end. He got into some dead something at the cottage the weekend before and whatever parasites he picked up his immune system at 15 couldn't handle it. He was still out swimming that weekend.
I trusted that dog more than any person i have ever known and that includes every member of my family. He always unconditionally had my back.
A few pics:
8 weeks old:
In his prime:
Headed off-grid into the back country:
One of many deer he recovered (as you can see he pre-dates my beard and long hair):
Two old guys snoozing (we did this almost every day of his life from 8 weeks old on):
For the first time in my life i am without a dog. It has taken me a week just to write this tribute. Have not grieved like this ever before for anyone or anything. I am not ready to get another and don't know if i ever will be.
Buried him beside the deck in the backyard right next to where he stood watch for coyotes virtually every day of his 15 years. Will mount a plaque of some sort on the deck beam next to his grave when i think of something appropriate that can fit on a plaque. Will also mount the remains of the 2 license plates from my youngest daughter's car that he chewed to pieces because he just didn't like them.
Hang in there brother.
