Being a dog owner/lover I've lost my share of some awesome hunters/companions/best friends so to say I can feel your pain ...I tuely can and my heart goes out to you.
Get another pup!
Here's a story our very own Avalancher wrote some time ago ...
When I was nine, my mother bought me two collie dogs to keep me company while she worked long hours. Indeed, they were not only my best friends but, for some time, they were my only friends. We lived at first in a very rural area and there weren't any kids anywhere around for me to play with. We slept together, hunted, fished the river and ate our meals together only as a kid and his dogs can do.
When I was 18, I joined the Navy and left home. After boot camp, I was sent to Great Lakes Naval Base for schooling and called home every Sunday morning. One Sunday morning, my mother was very quiet. After a little prodding, she told me that Jenny had gotten an infection and by the time she got her to the vet she was so bad off the vet advised her to put her down.
Mom buried her alongside the apple tree in the backyard and Missie, my other dog, refused to leave the grave. She stayed under that apple tree through several rainstorms and refused to eat. The following Friday, I had my weekly test and bombed it so big time that my chief called me into his office to ask what was going on. It was hard to tell that grizzled old man that had seen the world and done two tours in Vietnam that I was broken up about one of my dogs dying and the other one wasting away but I did my best expecting a good tongue-lashing afterwards.
I sat there at his desk while he leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling for what seemed like hours. Finally, he leaned forward and with a whisper that I could barely make out he said,"You need to go home to say goodbye."
It was only then that my grief took hold and I cried like a baby. He waited until I could compose myself, then told me to go back to the barracks, pack my stuff and arrange for a flight home. I told him that I appreciated his gesture but didn't have the money to make the trip.
With a tear in his eye, he pulled several bills from his wallet and tossed them on the desk. Although I refused the money, he simply said take it or he would write me up for disobeying a lawful order. I complied.
After I got my bags packed, I headed down to the area where the taxis hung out by the BX to catch a ride with my leave papers in my back pocket. I had only gone a block when a car pulled up alongside.
"Are you Petty Officer Klaus?" the man inside inquired.
"Yep, that's me, why?"
"Well, I have been instructed to take you to the airport."
After dumping me off at the terminal, the driver leaned out the window and handed me an envelope. He had been instructed to give it to me only after getting to the airport. Inside was almost $500 and a note.
"Thank you for reminding me what is important in this life Petty Officer Klaus ... I have seen far to much death and grief, and I was gone off to war when my own dog died alone in the barn. Since I wasn't there to say good bye to my own pal, maybe I can make up for it by sending you home. The money in this envelope was taken up from all the officers and instructors, you can thank them in person when you return."
Two days after I arrived home, Missie went to her final resting place, I buried her alongside Jennie under that apple tree.
I still have that note to remind me what is important in life. Sometimes its compassion.
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Take care my friend...this too shall pass
CK
