FC Caden's Hoosier Court Jester & Bingo
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 10:46 am
it has been a long tough memorial day weekend at our home. I haven't shared this much beyond our walls because most people just wouldn't understand...plus it's not easy to talk about. It's tough to put one dog to rest but two in a weekend is almost unbearable. I lost an awesome hunting companion Saturday and will lose a family friend this afternoon.
Joker was an awesome hunting companion that I was given the opportunity to acquire just last year. He was a favorite among my hunting buddies and was a hit when we guided a youth hunt last fall. He loved to hunt and I loved to hunt behind him. His life was cut tragically short Saturday morning when he was shot by a neighbor. He was playing in the yard with me, as each of my dogs do one by one on the weekends, when he and my JRT bound over the dam of the pond. We are lucky enough to live on 45 acres of rolling timber in the middle of nowhere surrounded by fields and more woods so I've never had a second thought about having the dogs run free in the yard. When the JRT returned and Joker didn't I went looking for him in a short period of time. To my dismay I saw a dog that looked like him lying dead in a neighbors yard that had recently moved to the area. I summoned the sheriff to go onto his property since I wasn't 100 percent sure it was him or knew anything about the neighbor. Unfortunately, my fears were confirmed...the guy shot him because he killed a chicken. He didn't try to collar him, throw a rock, shoot over his head...nothing. He was the victim of unfortunate circumstance, coupled with over reaction. I will forever feel guilty for losing him like this.
Bingo, our families golden retriever will be put to rest today. He has been with us since his 8th week. He was not a hunter but was a friend to my wife and children. He stood guard outside the front door for years when I worked 24 hour shifts..quick to bark at any strange vehicle or noise. He woulda licked them and not bit but the notification made my wife feel secure. When the kids would play in the yard he was always by their side and if they wandered in the woods wouldnt leave till they did. To be honest, I didn't like him much when he was younger...he was hyper, chewed on my shoes, and just annoyed me. As he aged he grew on me and the last couple years he was my nightly feeding companion and mushroom hunting partner. He would beg to be fed then watch me feed the dogs in the kennel then, like he was hoping I forgot about the earlier feeding, beg for more food when I was putting the food away. We found out he had lymphoma a few weeks ago and his quality of life has deteriorated quickly. It would be unfair to extend his suffering only to delay ours. Good Bye old friend!
Joker was an awesome hunting companion that I was given the opportunity to acquire just last year. He was a favorite among my hunting buddies and was a hit when we guided a youth hunt last fall. He loved to hunt and I loved to hunt behind him. His life was cut tragically short Saturday morning when he was shot by a neighbor. He was playing in the yard with me, as each of my dogs do one by one on the weekends, when he and my JRT bound over the dam of the pond. We are lucky enough to live on 45 acres of rolling timber in the middle of nowhere surrounded by fields and more woods so I've never had a second thought about having the dogs run free in the yard. When the JRT returned and Joker didn't I went looking for him in a short period of time. To my dismay I saw a dog that looked like him lying dead in a neighbors yard that had recently moved to the area. I summoned the sheriff to go onto his property since I wasn't 100 percent sure it was him or knew anything about the neighbor. Unfortunately, my fears were confirmed...the guy shot him because he killed a chicken. He didn't try to collar him, throw a rock, shoot over his head...nothing. He was the victim of unfortunate circumstance, coupled with over reaction. I will forever feel guilty for losing him like this.
Bingo, our families golden retriever will be put to rest today. He has been with us since his 8th week. He was not a hunter but was a friend to my wife and children. He stood guard outside the front door for years when I worked 24 hour shifts..quick to bark at any strange vehicle or noise. He woulda licked them and not bit but the notification made my wife feel secure. When the kids would play in the yard he was always by their side and if they wandered in the woods wouldnt leave till they did. To be honest, I didn't like him much when he was younger...he was hyper, chewed on my shoes, and just annoyed me. As he aged he grew on me and the last couple years he was my nightly feeding companion and mushroom hunting partner. He would beg to be fed then watch me feed the dogs in the kennel then, like he was hoping I forgot about the earlier feeding, beg for more food when I was putting the food away. We found out he had lymphoma a few weeks ago and his quality of life has deteriorated quickly. It would be unfair to extend his suffering only to delay ours. Good Bye old friend!