jfields
Where did all my money go?
We lost a big part of our family News Years Eve. It's absolutely crushed me! My head is spinning with "what if" and guilt.
I can still clearly remember a co-worker approaching me several years ago to tell me about a dog he'd found tied to a tree by a yellow nylon cord smack in the middle of his hunt clubs 4,000 acre lease. He told me that apparently someone had taken him there and left him to die by the looks of how long he'd been there, wearing a path around the base of the tree as he paced. Said he was surprised as cute as the dog was, not to mention intelligent.
"I don't want a damn dog" I told him when he asked me if I would take him in.
I just happened to be going by his house one day and stopped in for something I don't even remember at this point. Somehow our conversation turned to the dog he'd been hounding me about all week again. I politely let him know I still wasn't interested. I at least agreed to check out the dog tied to a lead out in the backyard........... He was almost full grown, but still had his little puppy needle teeth and acted very hyper. I fell in love with that playful black bundle the moment I laid my eyes on him. We took him home right then and there.
He was always an old soul, even when he was a puppy. He house trained in a day. Never chewed up anything and never tried to run off. From day one you could let him out, he'd go do his thing and come right back. For years we never worried when Bogie would go out into the front or back yard to lay in the grass to take a nap, soaking up the sun on a nice day. He never would run into the street, but rather just come up to the door when he was done and wanted back inside after watching the world go by.
There are so many fond memories I have of him over the years. Too many to share all of.
Some made me laugh like the time when I had a job I used to be able to take him along. A co-worker named Bob used to think dogs were a hunting tool only and best kept in a kennel out back. One day a customer brought us a box of doughnuts. He thought it would be funny to tease Bogie by asking him if he wanted one while he held the doughnut about six inches from the dogs mouth. "Not so fast" Bob said as he pulled the treat away as he went to take it. Bob then walked back into the shop with his jelly doughnut to leave Bogie staring at me as if to say "are you going to let him get away with that?" We all then watched him sneak up behind Bob, snatch the doughnut out of his hand, then run off with it as his cursing victim gave chase in vain. He sat within view and ate the doughnut, and I swear he made sure Bob was watching. We all were hysterical!
Others amazed me like the way he'd sit in the back yard all taught and trembling as he'd watch the squirrels that wandered into his territory. He'd wait for the right moment and then bolt. He would catch them about 50% of the time keeping the little tree rats from chewing up my bird feeders. He could also lay at my side then chase down and catch a Frisbee from midair no matter how far I managed to throw it.
Mostly he was just endearing like the way he protected the women while I'd go away on trips. He wouldn't lay in his bed when I was gone, but would sleep at the top of the stairs blocking anyone's possible entrance up the stairwell. Bogie would get up about once an hour to go check on all three girls in their respective bedrooms to reassure himself all was well. Or, the way he'd sense when Donella or I were feeling blue. He would lay by our side trying to comfort us. He always looked so cute as he'd excitedly prance up and down when he was about to get a treat. He even managed to do it when he looked at me perturbed while I took pictures of him with a cigar in his mouth for Jim's Puppy Pass. I could go on for days with stories like these.
Bogie had grown old over the years. His muzzle had turned white and he lost his hearing about four years ago. He just just went along with the flow and slept a lot. Warming his old bones by the wood stove in the winter months.
Donella had to work, so my daughter, Bogie and I were sitting outside New Years Eve by the backyard fire pit. I enjoyed some beer and smoked a few cigars while she had sweets and fizzy cider. We even happened to talk about his upcoming 17th Birthday we observed every March. We are all amazed at how spry he was for his age. I gave him his usual affection and slipped him a treat. He wanted back inside, however, I told my daughter I wanted to keep him out with us. At some point in the night I became aware of his absence. I did not become overly concerned at first since he would every once in a blue moon wander off for twenty or thirty minutes and come back home. He wasn't home when I put Charleigh to bed around eleven, so I then started to become concerned as I walked up and down the street in front of the house looking for him all over. Midnight came and went, but still no dog. I tried to go to sleep without much luck. I kept getting up every forty five minutes or so hoping to see his wagging tail at the front or back door all while having a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. When I saw it was getting light out I got up and opened the bedroom curtains to look out the bedroom window. My heart sank when I recognized him out there laying by the side of the road out front...... He didn't suffer and whoever hit him must have been flying down our road. I instantly felt guilty and wished I had let him in when he wanted in, or had of been more vigilant in my search for him. I keep thinking he would still be here.
I miss him so much and it's gut wrenching coming home at the end of the day and no wagging black tail to greet me like every other day. It took me a couple of days just to be able to write this. Thanks for listening, I found it therapeutic. Apologies if I rambled on.
Bogie gave me way more than I gave him over the years and I hope I see him again some day. Not bad for a throw away dog!
I can still clearly remember a co-worker approaching me several years ago to tell me about a dog he'd found tied to a tree by a yellow nylon cord smack in the middle of his hunt clubs 4,000 acre lease. He told me that apparently someone had taken him there and left him to die by the looks of how long he'd been there, wearing a path around the base of the tree as he paced. Said he was surprised as cute as the dog was, not to mention intelligent.
"I don't want a damn dog" I told him when he asked me if I would take him in.
I just happened to be going by his house one day and stopped in for something I don't even remember at this point. Somehow our conversation turned to the dog he'd been hounding me about all week again. I politely let him know I still wasn't interested. I at least agreed to check out the dog tied to a lead out in the backyard........... He was almost full grown, but still had his little puppy needle teeth and acted very hyper. I fell in love with that playful black bundle the moment I laid my eyes on him. We took him home right then and there.
He was always an old soul, even when he was a puppy. He house trained in a day. Never chewed up anything and never tried to run off. From day one you could let him out, he'd go do his thing and come right back. For years we never worried when Bogie would go out into the front or back yard to lay in the grass to take a nap, soaking up the sun on a nice day. He never would run into the street, but rather just come up to the door when he was done and wanted back inside after watching the world go by.
There are so many fond memories I have of him over the years. Too many to share all of.
Some made me laugh like the time when I had a job I used to be able to take him along. A co-worker named Bob used to think dogs were a hunting tool only and best kept in a kennel out back. One day a customer brought us a box of doughnuts. He thought it would be funny to tease Bogie by asking him if he wanted one while he held the doughnut about six inches from the dogs mouth. "Not so fast" Bob said as he pulled the treat away as he went to take it. Bob then walked back into the shop with his jelly doughnut to leave Bogie staring at me as if to say "are you going to let him get away with that?" We all then watched him sneak up behind Bob, snatch the doughnut out of his hand, then run off with it as his cursing victim gave chase in vain. He sat within view and ate the doughnut, and I swear he made sure Bob was watching. We all were hysterical!
Others amazed me like the way he'd sit in the back yard all taught and trembling as he'd watch the squirrels that wandered into his territory. He'd wait for the right moment and then bolt. He would catch them about 50% of the time keeping the little tree rats from chewing up my bird feeders. He could also lay at my side then chase down and catch a Frisbee from midair no matter how far I managed to throw it.
Mostly he was just endearing like the way he protected the women while I'd go away on trips. He wouldn't lay in his bed when I was gone, but would sleep at the top of the stairs blocking anyone's possible entrance up the stairwell. Bogie would get up about once an hour to go check on all three girls in their respective bedrooms to reassure himself all was well. Or, the way he'd sense when Donella or I were feeling blue. He would lay by our side trying to comfort us. He always looked so cute as he'd excitedly prance up and down when he was about to get a treat. He even managed to do it when he looked at me perturbed while I took pictures of him with a cigar in his mouth for Jim's Puppy Pass. I could go on for days with stories like these.
Bogie had grown old over the years. His muzzle had turned white and he lost his hearing about four years ago. He just just went along with the flow and slept a lot. Warming his old bones by the wood stove in the winter months.
Donella had to work, so my daughter, Bogie and I were sitting outside New Years Eve by the backyard fire pit. I enjoyed some beer and smoked a few cigars while she had sweets and fizzy cider. We even happened to talk about his upcoming 17th Birthday we observed every March. We are all amazed at how spry he was for his age. I gave him his usual affection and slipped him a treat. He wanted back inside, however, I told my daughter I wanted to keep him out with us. At some point in the night I became aware of his absence. I did not become overly concerned at first since he would every once in a blue moon wander off for twenty or thirty minutes and come back home. He wasn't home when I put Charleigh to bed around eleven, so I then started to become concerned as I walked up and down the street in front of the house looking for him all over. Midnight came and went, but still no dog. I tried to go to sleep without much luck. I kept getting up every forty five minutes or so hoping to see his wagging tail at the front or back door all while having a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. When I saw it was getting light out I got up and opened the bedroom curtains to look out the bedroom window. My heart sank when I recognized him out there laying by the side of the road out front...... He didn't suffer and whoever hit him must have been flying down our road. I instantly felt guilty and wished I had let him in when he wanted in, or had of been more vigilant in my search for him. I keep thinking he would still be here.
I miss him so much and it's gut wrenching coming home at the end of the day and no wagging black tail to greet me like every other day. It took me a couple of days just to be able to write this. Thanks for listening, I found it therapeutic. Apologies if I rambled on.
Bogie gave me way more than I gave him over the years and I hope I see him again some day. Not bad for a throw away dog!
