tribute to Rowdy from Travis
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 8:12 am
I said goodbye to the rowdydogg today. The years and the miles finally caught up to him. He took me so many places and changed my life so much, I could never pay him tribute for what I owe him. He's watched over my family, been my best friend, shared so many mornings in the field and nights on the couch. I fixed a sand which this afternoon and walked back into the kitchen for a drink, and out of habit looked for him to tell him not to steal it . First sandwich in 13 years that was safe unattended . My first dog to train, hr at 15 months , uh 2 weeks later, 21 months for hrch, 500 at 33 months 1 week, youngest male in hrc history at the time, maybe still. 1500 points dropping 5 tests, with 1000 consecutive finished points. But he was a better hunting dog than that. And a better friend than either. All of my friends in the dog world because of him. Tj and mine obsession with training dogs together, because of him. This picture was from this fall, when he was doing particularly well and Tj and I took him to the farm, his favorite place in the world. I've watched that video 50 times today. Snake bites, respiratory distress , heart damage, seizures , none of it could get him. Having watched him die twice and be brought back with my own breath , I knew that look in his eyes. Only the 3rd time I've ever seen it, scared. The night he died in my kitchen, the night he got hot and couldn't breath and I decided to retire him promising he d never be scared again, and today. His body in complete shock, veins collapsed they couldn't get the shot in, I told him it was ok... I'd be ok, he could go. He wouldn't. Even when the vet tried to end his pain and fright, this wonderful animal looked at me until I stopped crying before he let go. He loved me more than he was scared or hurt. That will never die.
