Lost my hunting buddy

[blue_healer_guy]

Guys I need some help here. Just put my yellow lab down. Did it myself( not proud of the whole deal) but she was my partner for 12 years and I'll be dammed if i was going to have someone else do it. She had heartworm I believe, I saw one that died from it and didn't want her to progress to that point. She was real suffering from arthritis and could hardly walk. She also put on a huge amount of weight the last few weeks. I'm know vet but I thought it was time. Has anybody ever had to do this? I'm doing ok but a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. Her name was Kaisha and just a great dog. Joe

[Bryce]

Have a chocolate female that will be 12 this fall. Getting hard for her to get around with her arthritis but the tail and the mind are still that of a puppy. Retired her to the couch after first N.D. hunt last fall. Got her final greenhead and rooster at the taxidermist. She had a great hunting career and made almost 50 families happy with new puppies. Will be hard to keep those thoughts in mind when it comes time to put her down though. Best of luck.

[Guest]

Sorry for the loss. I know how hard it is to put a dog down, musta been twice as hard doing your self. Again I am sorry for the loss, losing a dog is like losing your best friend.....

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If I'm not in the duck blind or the ice house I'm thinking about it!!......maybe thats why I can't pay attention in class!

[Guest]

It's a "tuff" thing to go through,... no matter what. I had to put my 11.5 year old lab down last July. (Cancer) Because it was so hard, I decided it was my last dog. I was not going to go through that again. ....That lasted until hunting season was over. I will not hunt/fish without a dog (partner) for one more year!! I spent all last winter scanning the net, Gun Dog Mag./Wildfowl Mag, etc. looking for a new dog. In February, I placed my $$ down. My new lab puppy was actually born today and I'll be picking her up June 30th +/-. I can't wait!!! Better feeling than "being a kid in a candy store w/$100.00 bill to spend!" Lots of work ahead, but I'm ready.
Sorry to hear about your loss. Time does heal though. I know,... I've just been there myself!

[blue_healer_guy]

Fellas, thanks for the replies. Been thinking about her all day. Got plenty of pictures and memories. She would go through hell and high water to fing a duck or a pheasant. Been thinking about what I could have done, maybe she would have lived another month, things like that. I have one of her pups who is ten and man is he lost. I will get another someday but one is all I need for now. Joe

[Duck-o-holic]

Joe--

Sorry to hear about your loss as well. I have a hunting buddy who just put his down a couple of months ago. I got a call from him the day it happened-- I think for moral support. I know I'll have to call him in the near future to return the favor, as my lab is also now 12 years old, and I will have to deal with the same depressing but necessary act.

Keep your head up... remember the great memories... and think of how lucky your dog was to have you as its owner! Imagine the boring life it would have had as a PETA-members pet! Sharing the blind or field with your dog is a bond that a non-hunter will never feel. Be proud of that... and know your dog lived a better life because of it!

Good Gunnin'

Duck-o-holic