The Worst Day of My Life

[nateski]

when i was young, maybe 13 or so, our golden retriever, samson, was hit by a car. ripped my heart in two. he was probably about the same age as paco. had so much life left to live. peace to you in your time of mourning. it WILL get better for you.

[Grange]

That just plain sucks. I lost my favorite dog at 9 years old and had a tough time. Hell I was gone for the weekend with my english setter at a dog trial and I called my sister twice to see how my lab was doing. I hated not having her with me, but I knew she would have more fun playing with other dogs than sitting on a chain gang all weekend. I don't even want to think about losing one of my dogs and to do so in their prime is heart breaking. At least you have some good pictures (I remember from the Fall Days Afield thread) of him doing what he loved to do.

[BSS]

God man this is so hard to read. My heart goes out to you Ross.

I lost Hank about a year and a half ago. The only thing I could think to do was to give him a proper burial, so we drove up into the mountains and I started digging. And I dug. And dug. I dug that ground until my hands were blistered and I filled that hole with tears and the best friend I ever had. And then I filled it in and covered it with the biggest rocks I could muster the strength to carry. Did it make things better? Probably not, but I think it made them right. I suppose maybe it's gotten a little easier but it will never be the same.

[Dhelihiker]

Oh man, that sucks. +++vibes+++

[bmg97]

Man, tried to read most of this at work and it was hard to read without wanting to cry. All the best from me and my pups !!! It will get better but it will still suck.

[mtskier]

so sorry to hear about paco. i lost my 12 year old lab/rotty mix this time last year. it never gets easier to lose a four legged friend. they ARE family. the pain will fade...some day. getting another dog (eventhough you still have one) does help.

dogs are the greatest creatures on earth and paco lived a great life.

post up some pix. we would love to remember paco with you.

[Buzzworthy]

I am so very sorry for your loss Ross. He was a good pups.

Reading about others dogs over the years is hard. The Rev is a part of our family here. His passions are noted. He loves his dogs. Then we love your dogs. Then our dogs move on, without us. And then it is hard for you, your family here and I am just so sorry......empathy sent your way man.

[gatorboy]

Speechless and heartbroken after reading this. I'm so sorry.

so, so sorry.

[Ted Striker]

Dammit I hate these threads. My eyes are actually tearing up a little just reading about your dog who I've never even met, and remembering the dogs that I've lost over the years.

Over time your pain will fade, and will be replaced by memories of all the great and ridiculous stuff Paco did, and the happiness you brought each other.

I'm sorry for your loss.

[DeathVan]

he's not gone as long as he's alive in your heart

watch for him, he's still with you

[Mr. Altagirl]

So sorry Ross, not much is harder than losing a trusted friend. Spoil your other dog a bit and keep the great memories of Paco alive in your soul.

[Fat City]

I am so, so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine the pain you must feel. I've got my 5yo golden retreiver buddy, Fletcher, (aka, Fletchmania) under my feet here as I type at work. He comes with me everyday, and has since day one and is never not by my side.
I wouldn't be me without him, your loss makes me feel that even more today. So, so sorry. I wish I had more words for you.......be strong brother. Peace and good vibes from Twin Falls.

---RELIGION IS THE SMILE ON A DOG----

[The Reverend Floater]

Thanks everyone. I spent the day at home trying to keep busy by working, etc. My girlfriend came home early and we had a good talk, with some tears.

One of my good friends and hunting buddys pointed out in a text that if I had made it my life's mission, I couldn't have given Paco a better life. Our small valley is surrounded by millions of acres of wilderness and it starts less than a half mile from my house. To be a dog here is to be a mouse in a cheese factory. Because of this, he got to do what he was bred to do--what he loved to do--hunt birds...a LOT. And when he wasn't hunting, he was with me or Kate at work or at home or camping or hiking or swimming or just goofing around.

Paco was often energetic but few things got him as riled up as when he would be in the back of the pickup and would have to wait patiently has me and whomever I was with would lace up our boots, put on our vests, get our water and snacks and finally put his hunting collar on. At this point, he'd explode out of the truck and start working. Whenever I grabbed a shotgun in my house, his ears were cocked and he'd run to the door.

Some hunting dogs take a while to remember what they're doing when you go hunting, meaning they might think they're on a hike or just messing around until they were reminded several times. Not Paco--at least not for the past several seasons--he was all business once I put that collar and orange field jacket on. As I wrote in the Fall Days Afield thread this year, I was finally 100% confident in Paco. He was always a good hunting dog, but this past season he became a truly great upland hunting (that's pheasant, quail, grouse, chuckar and huns for you non hunters). It was to the point where I knew that if there were birds wherever we were hunting, Paco would definitely flush them. I could let him lead and simply follow him and his nose until we found the birds. If we didn't find birds, I knew they weren't there. At the end of the hunt, I'd usually snap a photo of him and his game and he was always obviously proud when I put "his" bird next to him.

He and Bella came to work with me every day. If I wasn't out of town, I was almost ALWAYS with my dogs. That's just how it is here. For that reason, I don't think 30 minutes ever went by without Paco getting a petting or a hug or a wrestle or something to that effect. I take a lot of solace in knowing without a doubt that he KNEW he was loved and important to his family.

Bella didn't exactly express a lot of fondness for Paco. She basically tolerated him by ignoring her younger brother and occasionally growling at him (but never actually fighting) when he would inevitably invade her space.
It was funny, though--Paco loved her with impunity. He'd constantly lick her face and he'd ALWAYS wag his tail whenever Bella was getting petted. He truly loved everyone and everything, regardless of what they thought. He never got jealous of Bella or anything even close, even though he was much stronger and younger.

Paco was a dog...not like Bella, who thinks she is a person and looks at you with judging eyes (she's incredibly smart) and who sits upright when in the cab of the truck, her back resting against the backrest, gazing straight ahead like she's driving. No, Paco preferred to ride in the bed so he could stand on the wheel wells with his face in the wind, ears flapping. I'd often look in my side mirror and laugh a his expression. People would regularly pass me, laughing. He loved to swim more than any other being I've ever seen. From the time he was a "piglet" at 16 weeks when he first saw the pond to the day he passed, you simply couldn't keep him out of water. He'd swim in circles, splashing intentionally with his front paws and then catching the splashes in his mouth. It used to drive me and my duck hunting partners crazy when we'd be picking up decoys in the water and Paco would go motoring by, splashing everyone. He was truly a good timer.

[gorms]

nothing quite like a good dog.

Sounds like you are already finding your peace Rev.

Ill be sure to give my little pup some adventure as soon as i get away from the desk.

[Jax]

Big hugs to the three of you. I'm sorry to have just learned of Paco's passing. Hang in there, it does get better. I'm all too familiar with a lab passing suddenly and unexpectedly. My heart goes out to you.

Even though Bella didn't express fondness for Paco, I'm sure she will miss him nonetheless.

Take care.

[Crystal_Mt_Dreamin]

Dammit I hate these threads. My eyes are actually tearing up a little just reading about your dog who I've never even met, and remembering the dogs that I've lost over the years.

Over time your pain will fade, and will be replaced by memories of all the great and ridiculous stuff Paco did, and the happiness you brought each other.

I'm sorry for your loss.

THIS.

++vibes++

[powder11]

I can't imagine your pain. Try to hang in there and be happy he had a good life.

[Moeghoul]

+++vibes+++ I lost my 7 yr yellow lab, prolly stroke or heart attack. She was barking at the mailman on the front porch and just keeled over, I tried CPR and mouth to nose, but her tongue went blue and that was it. And I had just lost my 13 yr old lab 4 months prior after surgery complications. My advice, cry yer eyes out for a month and then adopt an awesome dog that needs a good home. It's good medicine for heartache.

[Adolf Allerbush]

Paco was a kickass dog man. Dude had no off switch when it came to playing fetch...good dog...sad loss.

[sidewall]

I'm really, really sorry to hear about this man. Hang in there.

[vinzclortho]

awww buddeh. I'm sorry to hear about Paco. Stay positive and remember the good times!

[teletripper]

I'm very sorry at your loss. it is ironic because I made a appointment to put my friend of 13 1/2 years to sleep today. Tommorrow is the day for her, I wanted to take her on her last hike and do it that way, but that won't happen. On a lighter note I'm glad Paco had a great walk, and will be waiting for you to play that game of stick/ball and hike with no interuptions forever! It will get better.

[pointedem]

Man, tried to read most of this at work and it was hard to read without wanting to cry. All the best from me and my pups !!! It will get better but it will still suck.

Same here... damn rev sry to hear.

[mtskier]

Thanks everyone. I spent the day at home trying to keep busy by working, etc. My girlfriend came home early and we had a good talk, with some tears.

One of my good friends and hunting buddys pointed out in a text that if I had made it my life's mission, I couldn't have given Paco a better life. Our small valley is surrounded by millions of acres of wilderness and it starts less than a half mile from my house. To be a dog here is to be a mouse in a cheese factory. Because of this, he got to do what he was bred to do--what he loved to do--hunt birds...a LOT. And when he wasn't hunting, he was with me or Kate at work or at home or camping or hiking or swimming or just goofing around.

Paco was often energetic but few things got him as riled up as when he would be in the back of the pickup and would have to wait patiently has me and whomever I was with would lace up our boots, put on our vests, get our water and snacks and finally put his hunting collar on. At this point, he'd explode out of the truck and start working. Whenever I grabbed a shotgun in my house, his ears were cocked and he'd run to the door.

Some hunting dogs take a while to remember what they're doing when you go hunting, meaning they might think they're on a hike or just messing around until they were reminded several times. Not Paco--at least not for the past several seasons--he was all business once I put that collar and orange field jacket on. As I wrote in the Fall Days Afield thread this year, I was finally 100% confident in Paco. He was always a good hunting dog, but this past season he became a truly great upland hunting (that's pheasant, quail, grouse, chuckar and huns for you non hunters). It was to the point where I knew that if there were birds wherever we were hunting, Paco would definitely flush them. I could let him lead and simply follow him and his nose until we found the birds. If we didn't find birds, I knew they weren't there. At the end of the hunt, I'd usually snap a photo of him and his game and he was always obviously proud when I put "his" bird next to him.

He and Bella came to work with me every day. If I wasn't out of town, I was almost ALWAYS with my dogs. That's just how it is here. For that reason, I don't think 30 minutes ever went by without Paco getting a petting or a hug or a wrestle or something to that effect. I take a lot of solace in knowing without a doubt that he KNEW he was loved and important to his family.

Bella didn't exactly express a lot of fondness for Paco. She basically tolerated him by ignoring her younger brother and occasionally growling at him (but never actually fighting) when he would inevitably invade her space.
It was funny, though--Paco loved her with impunity. He'd constantly lick her face and he'd ALWAYS wag his tail whenever Bella was getting petted. He truly loved everyone and everything, regardless of what they thought. He never got jealous of Bella or anything even close, even though he was much stronger and younger.

Paco was a dog...not like Bella, who thinks she is a person and looks at you with judging eyes (she's incredibly smart) and who sits upright when in the cab of the truck, her back resting against the backrest, gazing straight ahead like she's driving. No, Paco preferred to ride in the bed so he could stand on the wheel wells with his face in the wind, ears flapping. I'd often look in my side mirror and laugh a his expression. People would regularly pass me, laughing. He loved to swim more than any other being I've ever seen. From the time he was a "piglet" at 16 weeks when he first saw the pond to the day he passed, you simply couldn't keep him out of water. He'd swim in circles, splashing intentionally with his front paws and then catching the splashes in his mouth. It used to drive me and my duck hunting partners crazy when we'd be picking up decoys in the water and Paco would go motoring by, splashing everyone. He was truly a good timer.

thanks for sharing.

[BigDaddy]

Sorry to hear that RF. Paco sounds like a great dog, truly loved and loving. You were both lucky to have each other.