My hunting buddy is gone.

[1911 guy]

I woke up about 4:15 and she greeted me and followed me through the house. We spent a bit of "quality time" together, which consisted of me sctratching her ears and belly, then I went back to bed. Woke up for a shower at 8:00 and Maggie was curled up by the front door, died in her sleep. I'm bummed, my son is severely bummed since they were pals.

I had her before I even started dating my wife. Good dog, a very playfull and affectionate black lab.

 

[lipadj46]

Sorry that sucks. At least you did not have to put her to sleep and she was not in pain.

 

[JimmAr]

I lost 3 dogs this year.. none were pleasant..

 

[f4t9r]

Sorry to hear about Maggie. I have a Lab named maggie and she is a great dog much like yours I am sure. Good thing you got to spend some time with her that night.
How old was she?

 

[1911 guy]

Figured I'd add that she died of old age, 12 years old. Face and paws almost white now, with flecks of white on her belly. I'm gonna miss that dog, she was a lot of fun, right up to the last day or two.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Sorry for your loss...I lost my best friend a few months back too. He was 18 years old (spitz are long lived dogs), when he got to where he couldn't get up to walk...I could not stand to see him that way and had him put to sleep.

Best guard dog a man could have (downright vicious to strangers in his younger days)...not really a family pet though, he was a "one mans dog".

The best cure is to get another dog...I did and while I still miss my old friend...I do enjoy my new one.

 

[ArmedBear]

I'm sorry, 1911 guy.

Dogs are special creatures; we love ours like children I think.

That said, you are lucky. She just went to sleep, at home. Many, perhaps most, dog owners are not so lucky.

All the best to you.

 

[1911 guy]

We're gonna wait a bit to get a new dog, found out recently that the wife is due again in July. We'll find out soon if we'll have another son or a little girl. Dog will be next, not too many new family members at one time. It'll be another Lab, though. My last few dogs have been labs, all excellent pets and partners. Have to come up with another name starting with "M", after Malcom and Maggie.

My 4 y.o. son now has a little stuffed black dog he got at Build-A-Bear that has a picture of Maggie inside it. He hasn't let it out of his sight for a couple days. Maggie died on Sun., the 21st.

We were over at my folks place playing cards and left for home pretty late, he was talking about going home to see Maggie, but was asleep by the time we got home so we just put him to bed. She was gone by the time he woke up Sunday morning, so he never got to see her. He wasn't awake two minutes before he was calling for Maggie and we had to tell him she was gone and couldn't come back. He'd gotten her a duck-shaped squeaky toy for Christmas that he didn't get to give to her, he toted that around until we got the stuffed dog for him.

Strange, I know she's gone, but I still look for her in the hallway so I don't step on her.

 

[MCgunner]

It is gut wrenching thing to lose a good dog. I don't know why I keep gettin' 'em. I know you feel a loss. Sorry, dude.

 

[glockman19]

Sorry for your family's loss.

The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

 

[Floppy_D]

If only guns wore out faster than dogs.

Sorry for your loss man, that's a tough one. One a sidenote, congrats on the inbound kiddo.

 

[3pairs12]

My thoughts are with you man, I know how it feels to lose a member of the family like that.

 

[paintballdude902]

that sucks ive been there

last october my dog gretta died (half lab half border collie) she didnt go good at all she had diabeteus and started having seizures in the morning (i believe it was columbus day since all the vets were closed) she hung on going in and out of consiousness for about 24 hours it was bad i sat with her from 6pm till i fell asleep at 3am with her head in my lap holding back tears god it was a bad way to go but there was nothing we could do i didnt have the heart to put her down my self since i had had her since i was 7 years old she was the best dog you can imagine

she finally died sometime in the wee hours of the morning with ehr head in my lap and her favorite toy cat next to her

man just thinking about her brings back alot of memories

 

[moosehunt]

Very tough deal. Somebody elses story doesn't help, but my old Brittney died just under a year ago. Haven't had much urge to hunt birds since, probably won't again. Used to hunt about every Saturday and Sunday and holiday during the season. Without my partner, I have no more interest. My job is such that I'm in the wilds nearly all the time and my dog got to "hunt" almost every day of the year. Life has been very lonely since. A lot of folks say you'll get over it. I disagree.

 

[MaterDei]

Labs are great dogs. Sorry for your loss. Been there and hated it.

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

I feel for ya man. Our pets are like our first born. Part of the family. Losing a huntin buddy is even tougher. In time, your son will mend. Remind him that the pleasure and friendship he had with Maggie is something that will be matched by no other. Truly unique. Remind him of the kids that don't get to experience that friendship, and the loss just the same.

One of life's experiences that makes him stronger and appreciate life a bit more than the next guy.

Rest assured, (congrats to you and your's on the bun in the oven), someday your family will aquire a new puppy as another additon to the family.

That pup will generate more experiences for you son and his new sibling. Treasures they'll be.

Right now... Don't go see the movies... Marlie and me. Bad dog/Good dog. Great story. Great actors. Not a dry eye in the house!

-Steve

 

[moooose102]

i feel your pain. i lost all three of my dogs five years back. had all of them since they were pups. all of them died on holidays. i have since gotten a beagle, and a mixed breed pup found me last fall. but they are just not the dogs we once had. two of the three were super special dogs. one, was a lover, she loved to curl up on my lap, and slept with me every night, with her muzzle on my arm. the other was the absoloute best dog a man could ever get.

 

[bobby n.]

i lost bo last year. he was an atypical benchleg beagle with a large appetite for late night carrouses in the neighbors cow pie pasture. he 'd go with me to town
he went hunting and camping with me and he suddenly got sick and the vet said he'd contracted a blood disorder and was gone in a matter of hours. my other dog bubba missed him a lot, they competed in the field as most bird dogs would.

 

[armoredman]

I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my Sam in 2007 from cancer. She is now crossed over to the Rainbow Bridge. Where she is in a better place waiting for you.

 

[Mrs. Armoredman]

I am so sorry for your loss sir. It hurts. Just remember she loves you and will be waiting for you at The Rainbow Bridge. My husband and I lost Cocker Spaniel Sam last year from cancer that could not be fixed. They are both waiting for us when it's our time.

 

[waffentomas]

I am deeply saddened by your loss; take solace that her passing was quiet.

From left to right, Koa is 2 he and accompanies me to elk camp every year and is my trouble maker, Sachi-ko is 9 and she is sweet and empathetic (sorry about the bow, my wife insisted), Panzer is 10 and he follows me everywhere, even to the bathroom.

Given that Akitas have a 10-12 year span, I am trying to prepare myself - even though I know it's impossible.

My thoughts are with you.

Tom

 

[Mrs. Armoredman]

Pretty puppies. Love the red bow.

Before my Sam passed I told him thank you for being there for me when I needed him the most. I love him and I still miss him.

911guy, I hear where your comming from about being careful not to step on your beloved doggie. I did that for a long time untill we moved out of the house we were in.

 

[Mrs. Armoredman]

The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...




Beautiful poem. It's with my Sams memorial. Thank you for posting it.

 

[1911 guy]

Thank you.

Thank you all for the kind thoughts.

Tom, do you have a small Christmas tree or very large dogs? Yeesh, buy them saddles! Actually, I prefer bigger dogs (hence the labs) but still marvel at the size of some breeds. Before we married, my wife had a wolfhound named Cooper. Absolutely huge.

Eh, maybe just talking about dogs, which I like in general, is a bit of therapy. I spent so much time this week helping my son deal with it that it's just now starting to really hit me.

 

[Battlespace]

Lady

We have a mongrel (Lady) that was dropped off in the drive over 15 years ago as a long legged un-coordinated puppy. She is part this and part that but with a personality that is beyond explanation. She has now developed arthritis and congestive heart failure, but for $50.00 a month we keep her comfortable. She still likes to wrestle with me on the floor at night. Grabs hold of my arm and tries to drag me around. I know her days are numbered and will grieve greatly when she heads for the Rainbow Bridge.