Today was the day, finally got a rear tire on the backhoe replaced
so me and my old backhoe dog could work together this a.m.
feeding the cows one last time
picked him up and put him in and away we went and got it done.
a year ago he had a tumor show up and we had it removed..
It was just a few weeks ago
he had some tumors spring up on him all at once and they were doing him in
wanted to be able to bury him where the coyotes wouldn't get at him
literally one night he didn't have them and the next day he did.....
He's been my best cowdog.....many times if he was laying down on his side
when he saw me....he would thump his tail (nope, didn't dock him, have stopped with that)
well then we picked a big rock for a sorta headstone then picked a spot and dug
it open....with the rock above it, then came back for a break.....then we went back out.
I sat on the rock and he sat there with me and we showed each other some love
told him it was time..........
finally he turned his head so it could be done. It was instant. No quivers.....
except one thing......his eyes were closed.....and then his tailed thumped again
not once but about 3 or 4 times as if maybe to say see you again or thanks for ending the pain
that one last time and my knees kinda buckled and I choked up.
wrapped him in a piece of white sheet and then gently laid him to rest.
Don't ever think it's easy doing this either. It isn't. It rips your guts out.
He was my backhoe buddy when we fed the cows with it or I was doing work with it
He was so tough, that when I had to stitch him up twice, he let me do it....
I had some lidocaine, and he held still for it.....and laid still when I stitched...
Yesterday a yr old bucket fed calf now a steer, tried to come up in the gate and
had to turn him down the driveway and out
well I turned the 2 girls on him, but my friend slipped out as well.....
even in the poor shape he was in wasting away.....
he showed those girls how it was done....with me worrying he'd get kicked
the steer back in the pasture, and he turned with a dog grin and told him great job!
he got it done.....he came back slow from it.....not kicked, just plumb wore out....
even in the backhoe this a.m. where we had a rhythm when I had to spin the seat around
he was on cue....a little slow and we just took our time......
SO the next time you hear about how these wolves they've set loose here in CO
killed someone's best cow dog and its mate......
and they can't even shoot the damn things
Please realize there is NO replacement for a friend like this that works with you
that damn city people think is just a dog. They are a friend that will lay down their life
for you......and imo, there is nothing greater.
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