Thread: Farewell old friend

Woody, honestly my heart goes out to you, ive kept back two weeks long service leave, one for each dog, i see them struggle at times and DREAD that decision, yet one i know i must ultimately face, but honestly the fact that burl effects you the way he does means that he has had a mate that has looked after him (and if like myself absolutely love them,) and agonises over the hardest decisions, but your absolute kindness and compassion to Burl is your greatest gift to him, (shit even im struggling to write this!) its putting their needs above your want, its ok to grieve, fuck i know i will! but your doing the right, kind, loving thing, shit go get the best cut of meat from the freezer and spoil him.

Originally Posted by Woody

Lots of tears here too.

The way it should be.

Real men have the courage to cry.

My thoughts are with you in this difficult time!
RIP Burl!

I really dislike reading these threads...the tears fog my glasses
my most heartfelt sympathy to you jokers having to face this hardest of trips with your faithful mates....
find a good place to let them lay in the sun...sit and drink a can with them at least once a year....they will understand.

You have given him the best life ever, it,s now time to help him on his way. It,s the right decision but not an easy one. You still have Woody I presume?.

@Woody Hope your doing ok mate, have to admit my two got a bloody good defrosted prime cut tonight, take care

Hope you are coping with your lose, sure is a tough call to make but it is the kindest decision to make but certainly a hard one.
All the best Woody and RIP Burl.

Woody, is bloody hard putting down any family pet, all the best mate, he couldnt have had a better dad. I was amazed the way you brought them to my 70th and then feed them late that night before taking them home. Your still young enough for one more!!

Originally Posted by Woody

My older dog GWP Burl has lost most of the use of his back legs. Sadly he is also losing his quality of life and although we worked hard together pulling him out of holes, uneven ground, the river, up steps and lots of other things to allow him to hunt and fossick, the awful reality is that he is continually now at risk of an accidental and unpleasant demise. Sadly, I have had to make the awful decision to end it. Today he still happily gnaws on a bone and enjoys his feed and a short walk, albeit with me supporting him from falling and helping him to get upright in order to move. Burl wants mostly to be right by me at all times now and is distressed if I move away.

So today I have prepared his grave and tomorrow morning will see his final release. The hundreds of miles trekked together, pheasants, ducks, geese, deer and quail we have hunted together and the humour along the way, over the past 14 years will never be erased from memory.
I grieve. Burl is special. Good dogs become a part of our lives and spirit.
I hope he understands.

I feel for you mate it brings back a flood of memories and a tear to my eyes thinking back of the 5 dogs I have had in my life is never easy to say goodbye but its obviously time you are doing the right thing so be strong. I have planted a tree on top of each old friend and every time they flower it brings back memories of the good time we had and has given my the strength to find a new freind shit I better sign off my keyboard is getting wet

Originally Posted by 57jl

I feel for you mate it brings back a flood of memories and a tear to my eyes thinking back of the 5 dogs I have had in my life is never easy to say goodbye but its obviously time you are doing the right thing so be strong. I have planted a tree on top of each old friend and every time they flower it brings back memories of the good time we had and has given my the strength to find a new freind shit I better sign off my keyboard is getting wet

Every night when i have my coffee before bed down in our backyard all my old dog friends are very close. No room left actually so the current ones and future ones will all be cremated and sit on my shelf waiting for me or me them if it goes the other way.
Woody, I gave ours an extra pat last night just for Burl. I hope you dont mind

Sad times,had to let my gsp of 15yrs go last month,never easy but I think they know when the time has come and you are doing the right thing easing the suffering of your old mate.

there is no greater show of love and respect than to send him home yourself .
I couldn't let some faceless vet do it.
it didn't seem right.
we came into the partnership together and we were together when he left it
none the wiser but happy walking together at a place we hunted together a lot.
it hurts but it would have been worse to never have had them .
rip burl and elvis

Thanks so much for the very kind thoughts chaps. Burl was a great mate and for the last several days I could not bear to read more, or to look for photos of him to post. He passed very peacefully with his head on my lap, in the back of my highlander in his usual "navigator" spot, still smiling to me after a last hand fed snack. He was a real foodey . His vets all knew him well as we have been treating him together for the past 2 1/2 years. They all wept too. He was something special to all present
He is buried with full honours; a deer skin under him, canada, pheasant and duck wings around him, and covered with his favourite blanket.
I will try to post one pic. I thought about posting several, but it hurts too much still. His father was Woody, and his 3 year old successor is Thor, who is turning out very well, having been trained by Burl as well as myself. Burl (on right) and his dad Woody (on left). A great pheasant out of heavy cover.


On behalf of Burl and myself, Thanks again to all for your king thoughts.

I wish you peace.

I am not that religious but I firmly believe if there is an afterlife, our dogs will be the first to greet us and everyone else there, can just fucking wait a bit longer, for our attention.

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