A Good Day Gone Bad

[remington]

Some days it just doesn't pay to get up. Started out well, up early for a day on the creek catching crawdads and fishing. Took two dogs, Walker and Dixie. Parked along-side the road, unloaded, got everything ready. I heard a sound and turned around, Walker had been hit by a truck. I ran over and he was still breathing. Put him in the van and drove like mad to the nearest vet office. He died. Unless you have had a dog you can never know how close you are to them. I froze with that dog, I baked with that dog. Through thick and thin he was at my side. He would have layed down his life if I needed it and now he's gone. Thought I'd share.

[MotherCharlotte]

Remington, that's awful. I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. :-[

RIP Walter.

[rAcErRicK]

Sorry for your loss Rem. As you said, only a dog owner knows the hurt of losing one, especially like that. I've lost a couple early too, way before their time, and their memory stays forever.

[stilltryinat50]

:'( :'(

[humbug]

I am sorry to here of your loss. I know what it is like to lose a beloved pet. They are part of our families. My sincere condolences.

HUM

[remington]

I thought it was interesting what the other dog, Dixie, was doing when I was trying to get to Walker. She stood over him and kept the people back until I got there, and then when I was trying to keep him alive, she stood between me and the people who had stopped. She is mourning right now, too, won't eat, just sits and whines.

[B00kW0rm]

remington,

I am so sorry that you've lost your beloved Walker. You and Dixie will be in my thoughts.

[Dawgus]

Remington...I'm sorry for your loss, it's an awful thing to happen. Sometimes we don't realize how close we are to our dogs (or other critters) till it's too late.
A few years ago, Austin (our bloodhound) got out of the gate and was hit by a car. He ended up in the vet hospital for 3 days. I happened to be working less than a mile away from the hospital, and was there every day on my lunch break...mrs called twice a day. Luckily, no real injuries other than one tiny cut and massive bruising. He came home to a fouton matress all for himself on the floor and 3 other very happy dogs. (4 at that time, now we have 5 with the addition of a basset)
He's not a "earned his keep" dog, he's a 125 lb couch potato, but he's a great dog. I don't wanna go through that again.....but with 5 dogs now, someday we'll have to face the inevitable, and its going to be really hard.
You mentioned your other dog being sad with him not around...thought I'd share a quick moment about Austins accident before I stop typing. He got out with another dog (Ace) who is roughly half his weight. The lady who hit him actually stopped and came to the house. Amidst the panic of loading Austin into the car to head to the vet, she asked about the little black dog. Apparantly he (Ace) had grabbed Austin by the collar and dragged him off the road before coming to the house to bark for us.

[rAcErRicK]

I am many times amazed too at the knowlege and understanding that some dogs display, usually at times of their own choosing, but nevertheless they posess far greater understanding than we give them credit for having. Over the years I have learned to read their reactions somewhat, as an indication of their understanding. At the risk of being thought a nutcase, I talk to mine quite often, giving him the opportunity to show a reaction, and am often surprised to get one. I am convinced that a surprising number of words have a meaning to them. I am also convinced that some people don't have the sense of some dogs I've seen. When I am preparing to go camping, sometimes I can take mine, and sometimes I cannot, and he knows by what I am packing, whether he is included or not, and acts accordingly. He pouts for days in advance if he sees me preparing my stuff and not his. I sometimes am tempted to ready his stuff to try and fool him, to avoid his days of pouting, but that wouldn't be right either, so I don't.

That was truly amazing about Ace dragging Austin to safety though. I have no problem believing that at all. I am getting along in years but I well remember every dog I've had since a small boy, and the characteristics of each one.

[Dawgus]

Racerick.....after I made that post, I walked out for a glass of tea and told the wife what I had posted. She smiled and said "thats right, we almost changed his name to Hero that day", and handed Ace a piece of chicken. lol
I too remember every dog we ever had, every "pet" dog, and every rabbit dog dad and I ever owned. Several of which I have pictures of hanging on the wall under stuffed pheasants or ducks that belonged to my dad. I tend to remember people by their dogs too, as odd as that is. I'll recognise someone then remember the black and tan coonhound or great rabbit beagle they had.....one of my odd quirks. "Hey! I'm Bob, remember me?" "Yep, you had that awesome blue tick-beagle mix that tangled with a skunk and lost" Most of my childhood memories are rabbit hunting with my dad, uncle, and neighbors, or listening to the foxhounds with another neighbor....I sure miss those days and people. (and of course the dogs)

[MNMOM]

Remington,
I know the pain you are going through. Whenever we have lost one of our beloved dog's we grieve just like we had lost a family member. They really are part of the family.

Our wonderful golden that we lost in May, grieved for about a year after he lost his buddy. The intelligence in dog's and most animals is unbelievable.

[remington]

Saw this in a book I bought at a library sale

What a Dog Really Is

The Most Unselfish Living Creature is your Dog.

If you are in danger, your dog needs only to hear your cry for help, and he will come to your aid without fear of losing his own life.

The Most Patient Creature in the World is Your Dog

Whatever you give him, whatever you do for him, he is always sincerely grateful to you. To your dog you are the most wonderful person in the world. In his eyes and heart you can do no wrong.

The Most Sincerely Friendly Creature In the World is Your Dog

Of all of God's animals, he alone works for man without a whip. He is always happy to be with his master, wherever he may be, whatever he may do. He is sadder than any living creature when his master is away, and is the only creature that can actually die in a short time from lonesomeness for his master.

The Most Forgiving Creature in The World is Your Dog

Among humans, true adherence to genuine forgiveness is found only with saints. Your dog carries no grudge and no spite. Punish him even when he does not deserve it and he comes to you and nudges his wet cold nose into your hand, looks up at you with honest, pleading eyes and wags his tail hesitatingly as though to say,"I forgive you, you can kill me, if you wanted to and I still forgive you."

The Most Loyal Creature in The Word Is Your Dog.

Whether you are dressed in rags, or the height of fashion; whether you are a beggar or a wealthy man; whether you are thought of as a hero or a coward, a wise man, or a fool, your dog is waiting for you with a loving, friendly bark of happiness, a friendly wagging tail, and a heart that is full of nothing but true love for you.

[rAcErRicK]

Excellent Rem. I was about to say, a good dog to me doesn't seem to qualify as a pet. They are so much more. A very good friend is closer, but even that seems inadiquit. Hard to put into words how close one can be. As you said, even without a word being spoken, they sense and accurately evaluate the situation, and if danger is present, they immediately respond to it in your behalf. A human that is with you will stop and concider his own risk before he decides what direction to take in your behalf. There is no decision making process with your dog, that period of time is omitted, and goes directly to a hair trigger "teamwork thing" it's us against the danger immediately. I guess "good friend" for the lack of a better word, will have to do.

rick

[remington]

Dixie, my other dog killed a copperhead right beside my foot before I could even think. She's saved my life on a few occassions.

[Catalpa]

Wow, Remington, I'm so sorry to read about what happened to your dog. I've only had a few dogs in my life, but each one was a cherished friend. I hope over time the good memories ease the pain.

[rockymtngirl]

We are so sorry to hear of your loss. Our 2 dogs are definitely our family - 'the kids'. Hope you will cherish all the great memories

Best wishes

RMG