Post by raptrlvr on Jul 25, 2007 12:40:05 GMT -5
Twelve years ago, my female Austrailian Sheppard had a litter of pups. We sold all the puppies except a male Blue Mearl. I chose not to sell him because of his disposition and he always stayed right at your heels. He had a large black shadow on his silver/gray coat that looked like the body of a hawk. Hence the name Hawk. As this pup grew up he became a true faithful companion and would never leave my side. He has lived in the house from day one. He never had to be kept on a leash no matter where we went and ever time the car/truck door opened, he was ready to go. We would go to the High Sierra's every year for 2 weeks and he would run across the meadows with the wind blowing his mane back from his neck. If my wife and I were fishing in different areas, he would travel between the 2 of us to make sure we were still there. He did not like us to get seperated. He had his own chair around the campfire and would curl up in it as the rest of us would sit around and talk for hours. He never played ball or liked the water, but, he loved everyone he came in contact with. If someone was afraid of dogs he would quickly still thier fears with his disposition and friendlyness. My wife and I joked that he was not our dog, but, everybody's dog. Everybody loved Hawk. His mother died at the age of 12 from cancer and now Hawk at 12, has entered the final days of his life with the same disease. He still wants to go and for the last few days, I have spent as much time as possible with him taking him with me even to my class in the mornings. He can no longer get into the truck and has to be lifted up, but, once he is in the truck, he lays in the same spot he has laid in for years. He is no longer eating so there is no way for him to get any medication. His breathing is very labored, but, he makes an effort to greet us and then lays at my feet. My heart is filled with so much sadness knowing that I have to put him down. There is some comfort in knowing that he has had a great life. I have never had a more faithful companion when it comes to dogs. I know that we all go through these days when we lose an animal, but, Hawk deserves a few words to be written about him. I will never forget him and the good times we have had even if he was not a hunting dog. Yes, grown men do cry and the tears are flowing as I look at Hawk laying at my feet.